Walter “Wally” Kennedy, of Exton, a beloved KYW anchor and longtime 6abc host, died on Oct. 30 aged 76, writes Beatrice Forman for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Kennedy, best known for his wide-ranging interviews with celebrities and Philadelphia politicians, was a 6abc fixture for over two decades. He was the host of morning news shows AM Live and AM Philadelphia before transitioning to host Philly After Midnight, the station’s attempt at a late-night talk show.
There, Kennedy churned out many memorable conversations using his personable and intimate approach when interviewing stars, including his chat with Prince Albert of Monaco, in which the pair bonded over his mother, Grace Kelly, being a Philly girl.
“Wally was a consummate news professional who loved Philly and loved working in service to our viewers,” said Bernie Prazenica, 6abc’s president and general manager. “His ability to listen and connect with his subjects was unparalleled and made him one of the greats.”
Kennedy departed 6abc in 2004 and went back to radio, where he served as a KYW anchor for the next 15 years while he also taught broadcast journalism classes at Temple and Immaculata Universities.
Read more about the life and remembrance of Wally Kennedy in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on VISTA Today in November 2024.
