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Who Is Elizabeth Vargas?
Elizabeth Vargas, born on September 6, 1962, is an American broadcast journalist with an extensive career in television news. She began her tenure at ABC Network in 1996, contributing to several prominent programs, including Good Morning America, 20/20, World News Tonight, and hosting various ABC News specials. In 2016, Vargas publicly shared her long-standing struggles with alcohol and anxiety during a 20/20 segment, which led to the release of her memoir, Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction. In December 2017, Vargas announced her departure from ABC to explore other ventures, including a production deal with A+E Networks’ A&E Investigates series, slated for 2018.
Early Life and Background
Elizabeth Anne Vargas was born in Paterson, New Jersey, to Rafael Vargas, a U.S. Army colonel of Puerto Rican heritage, and Anne Vargas, of Irish-American descent. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism.
Journalism Career: From NBC to ABC
Vargas began her career at a CBS affiliate in Chicago before moving to NBC News in 1993, where she contributed to Dateline and Today. In 1996, she joined ABC News, initially as a news anchor for Good Morning America, working under Joan Lunden. Her career at ABC saw a series of promotions, and by 2002, Vargas became co-anchor for 20/20 Downtown (later renamed Primetime Monday), as well as anchor for World News Tonight Saturday, and later World News Tonight Sunday. In 2004, she officially became the co-anchor of 20/20. Throughout her years at ABC, Vargas worked alongside notable journalists such as Charlie Gibson, Bob Woodruff, and Diane Sawyer. She was recognized as the first female evening news anchor of Latin descent at the major U.S. networks, a significant achievement in the history of broadcast journalism.
Special Reports
Leveraging her background in investigative journalism, Elizabeth Vargas reported on several significant stories during her tenure at ABC News. Her notable reporting included the Laci Peterson, Matthew Shepard, and Amanda Knox cases, as well as in-depth coverage of Christian refugees fleeing ISIS terrorists in Iraq. She also investigated the controversial adoption of Cambodian orphans without their parents’ consent and the high-profile immigration case of Elián González, for which she earned an Emmy Award in 1999.
Departure from ABC
In December 2017, after 14 years of anchoring 20/20, Vargas announced she would be leaving ABC News to pursue a new chapter in her career. Reflecting on her time at the network, James Goldston, President of ABC News, praised her accomplishments, stating:
“One of the best broadcasters in our business, Elizabeth holds an historic place at ABC. She is only the second woman ever to serve as co-anchor of 20/20. She stepped into that role with determination, continuing the legacy of Barbara Walters by telling global stories that delve into important issues and capturing pivotal moments in our culture.”
Goldston further acknowledged Vargas’ extensive contributions, including her coverage of major events such as the 2017 inauguration, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and the deaths of public figures like George Michael, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, Prince, and Muhammad Ali. Her anchor chair was central to ABC’s reporting on some of the most significant breaking news events in the past two decades, including 9/11 and the death of President Ronald Reagan.
In April 2018, Vargas revealed her next project would involve hosting investigative stories for A+E Networks’ A&E Investigates series, which was scheduled to debut in 2018.
‘Between Breaths’ Memoir
In September 2016, Vargas publicly disclosed her struggles with alcohol and anxiety during a special 20/20 segment. That same year, she released her memoir, Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction. When reflecting on the decision to share her personal journey, Vargas explained:
“Honestly, I just thought, I don’t want to live with these secrets and this worry and this stress of wondering who knows, and what do they know, and will more people know. I think me telling these stories is very different from having somebody else tell the story. I’m able to own it, and there’s part of me that feels very liberated by just getting it out there.”
Between Breaths became a New York Times Bestseller and topped the USA Today book list.
Personal Life
Vargas married Grammy Award-winning folk musician Marc Cohn in 2002. The couple divorced in 2014. They have two children together: Zachary Raphael (born in 2003) and Samuel Wyatt (born in 2006).