His passing was announced by his daughter, Courtney Greene, in a heartfelt and deeply personal social media post shared on Facebook. Framing his death through the lens of the profession that defined his life, she paid tribute to a man who spent more than half a century delivering the day’s most critical stories to millions of viewers.
“Our beloved husband, father, uncle and friend has signed off for the last time,” she wrote in her Facebook tribute. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Harold passed away last night. My mom and I were by his side, and there was an extraordinary amount of love in the room. We have a feeling he’s already settling into the great newsroom in the sky, no doubt with a few suggestions on how things should be run. He was so very loved, and we know he will be missed by many.”
Throughout a career that spanned generations, Greene became a true fixture of the Los Angeles media landscape. His face and voice were synonymous with local broadcast journalism, thanks to long-running, high-profile stints at major network affiliates, most notably at KABC and KCBS. For viewers in Southern California, Greene was more than just a news reader; he was a trusted nightly companion who brought stability and authority into their homes during times of crisis, triumph, and major historical transition.
Greene’s broadcast journey in Southern California and beyond was marked by steady advancement and deep community roots. He spent more than 18 years at KABC, anchoring some of the most-watched news programs in the competitive Los Angeles market. During his tenure at the ABC owned-and-operated station, he served as co-anchor of the flagship 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts, cementing his status as a premier anchor before his departure in 2000.
Not ready to step away from the anchor desk, Greene made a high-profile move a year later when he joined KCBS/KCAL. The transition allowed him to reunite with Ann Martin, his former co-anchor from their glory days at KABC, recreating a powerhouse pairing that drew immediate nostalgia and loyalty from longtime local news viewers.
Long before he became a defining face of Los Angeles television, Greene built his foundation in neighboring San Diego. He started his career as an integral part of the pioneering team that successfully launched local news programming on KCST (Channel 39). Demonstrating his broad appeal and competitive drive in the market, he later jumped to crosstown rival KGTV, further establishing his reputation as a rising star in West Coast broadcasting.
His career path also took him briefly to Northern California, where he spent time at KPIX in San Francisco before making the pivotal move south to KABC. At KABC, he famously co-anchored the 5 p.m. newscast alongside legendary Los Angeles newsman Jerry Dunphy, creating a formidable duo that dominated the ratings. Following a brief return to KGTV in San Diego, Greene came back to KABC in 1982, embarking on the longest and most definitive chapter of his professional life.
Greene’s professional versatility extended far beyond standard hard-news anchoring. Over the course of his decades-long career, he also stepped into the host’s chair for various special interest and entertainment programs for KABC, including popular series such as “Hollywood Close-Up” and the daytime talk and lifestyle program “A.M. Los Angeles.” These roles allowed him to showcase a lighter, more conversational side of his broadcasting personality, engaging with celebrities, public figures, and everyday people with the same warmth and professionalism he brought to the evening news.
His exceptional contributions to journalism and broadcasting did not go unrecognized by his peers. Over the years, Greene amassed a glittering collection of the industry’s highest honors. He was a multi-time recipient of the prestigious Golden Mike Awards, earned multiple local Emmy Awards from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and received honors from the Los Angeles Press Club and the Edward R. Murrow Awards. In recognition of his enduring impact on the entertainment capital of the world and his contributions to local media, he was also awarded a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Greene’s larger-than-life presence in the newsroom and quintessential 1970s and 1980s television anchor aesthetic also made him a part of popular culture lore. For years, he has been widely credited by colleagues and media observers as one of the primary real-life inspirations behind Will Ferrell’s iconic, pompous, yet lovable “Ron Burgundy” character in the hit comedy film “Anchorman.” While the filmmakers behind the comedy classic have never officially confirmed whether Greene specifically inspired the fictional San Diego anchor, the similarities in era, style, and market presence made the comparison an enduring piece of local television folklore.
Like many veterans of the traditional broadcasting era, Greene’s time on the air eventually faced the harsh realities of changing media economics. In 2008, Greene and his longtime co-anchor Ann Martin were among the prominent KCBS/KCAL staffers let go by station management as part of sweeping, station-wide budget cuts that impacted newsrooms across the country. Despite the unceremonious end to his daily anchoring career, his legacy as a titan of Southern California news was already firmly secured.
The outpouring of memories and tributes following the announcement of his death reflects a career defined by professionalism, dedication to the craft of journalism, and a deep, abiding connection to the community he served for decades. With his passing, Southern California loses a vital link to a golden era of local television news, leaving behind a legacy preserved in the archives of television history and in the memories of the viewers who welcomed him into their homes night after night.
