Bill Moyers, a towering figure in American journalism and public life, passed away on June 26, 2025, at the age of 91 in New York City. His death, confirmed by his son William, followed a long illness and complications from prostate cancer.
Moyers began his public journey as a youthful Baptist minister before rising to national prominence as White House Press Secretary under President Lyndon B. Johnson during one of the most turbulent eras in U.S. history. But it was his second act—as a journalist—that defined his legacy.
Over decades, Moyers became one of television’s most honored and incisive voices. His work on PBS, CBS, and his own program, Moyers & Company, reshaped public broadcasting. He tackled subjects others avoided—government corruption, media consolidation, drug addiction, religion, and environmental abuse—with a calm, probing style that invited reflection rather than outrage.
His 1988 series The Secret Government exposed the Iran-Contra scandal with surgical clarity. His interviews with mythologist Joseph Campbell in The Power of Myth became a cultural touchstone, blending philosophy, storytelling, and spiritual inquiry into mainstream discourse.
Moyers believed in the power of ideas and the dignity of dialogue. In a medium often driven by spectacle, he championed the “talking head”—not as filler, but as a vessel for thought. “The question is, are the talking heads thinking minds?” he once asked. “I think the most fascinating production value is the human face”.
Even in his final years, Moyers remained engaged. He collaborated on a new project with his wife Judith, showing up to the studio with a walker and full-time aide, determined to contribute.
He is survived by Judith, his wife of nearly 70 years, and their three children. Colleagues remember him as generous, passionate, and deeply funny—a man who inspired many to pursue journalism not for fame, but for truth.
Bill Moyers didn’t just report the news. He helped America understand itself.
