Maury Povich is a former American television personality who hosted one of the most popular and controversial tabloid talk shows in the history of the genre.
For over three decades, he has entertained and shocked millions of viewers with sensational topics like paternity tests, lie detector tests, cheating spouses, out-of-control teenagers, and strange phobias.
He also had a distinguished career as a radio and television journalist, covering major news events and interviewing celebrities. He is married to Connie Chung, a well-known journalist and former news anchor.
File
- Full name: Maurice Richard Povich
- Date of birth: January 17, 1939
- Age: 85 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Washington, DC, USA
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: TV presenter, journalist
- Height: 6 feet (1.83 m)
- Parents: Ethyl (née Friedman) Povich and Shirley Povich
- Siblings: Lynn Povich and Susan Povich
- Spouse: Phyllis Minkoff (married 1962; divorced 1979), Connie Chung (married 1984)
- Children: Susan Anne Povich, Amy Joyce Povich, Matthew Jay Povich
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $60 million
Early life and education
Maury Povich, now 85, was born on January 17, 1939, in Washington, DC, United States. He is the second of three children of Ethyl (née Friedman) Povich and Shirley Povich, a prominent sports journalist for The Washington Post. He has two older sisters, Lynn and Susan.
He grew up in a Jewish family and attended the Landon School, a private all-boys school in Bethesda, Maryland.
He graduated in 1957 and attended the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in broadcast journalism. He graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Personal life
Maury Povich was married twice in his life. His first marriage was to Phyllis Minkoff, a fellow journalist, in 1962.
They had two daughters, Susan and Amy, but they divorced in 1979 after 17 years of marriage. His second marriage was to Connie Chung, a journalist and former news anchor, in 1984.
They have a son, Matthew, whom they adopted in 1995. Maury and Connie have been married for 39 years and are still going strong. They live in New York City and have homes in Montana and Maryland.
Career
Maury Povich began his career as a radio reporter in 1962, working for WWDC, a radio station in Washington, D.C.
He then moved into television and became a news anchor for WTTG-TV, a Metromedia station in Washington.
He then worked for stations in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, covering major news events such as the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the Watergate scandal, and the Iran hostage crisis. He interviewed celebrities such as Muhammad Ali, John Lennon, and Jane Fonda.
In 1986, he had his own talk show, The Maury Povich Show, which was nationally syndicated by Paramount Domestic Television. The show focused on current affairs, social issues, and human interest stories.
The series was retitled Maury in 1995 and became more sensational and provocative, with themes such as paternity testing, lie detector tests, cheating spouses, out-of-control teenagers, and strange phobias.
The show is known for its dramatic revelations, such as “You are not the father!” or “You are the father!” The show has also been criticized for exploiting its guests and promoting stereotypes and violence. The show ran for 31 seasons and ended in 2022, making it one of the longest-running talk shows in television history.
In addition to his talk show, Maury Povich hosted other programs, such as A Current Affair, a news magazine program that aired from 1986 to 1990 and from 1998 to 1999; Twenty-One, a quiz show that was revived from 2000 to 2001; and Weekends with Maury and Connie, a weekend news program that he co-hosted with his wife Connie Chung from 2006 to 2007.
He has also appeared as himself in several films and television shows, such as How I Met Your Mother, Madea’s Big Happy Family and The Simpsons.
Net worth
According to sources, Maury Povich has a net worth of $60 million.
He made the bulk of his fortune from his talk show, which reportedly paid him $14 million a year at its peak. He also earned money from other shows, endorsement deals, and investments.
Argumentative
Maury Povich has faced many controversies and lawsuits throughout his career, mostly related to his talk show. Some of the controversies and lawsuits include:
In 1998, he was sued by two women who claimed they were tricked into appearing on his show and were humiliated and harassed.
They said they were promised makeovers and reunions with long-lost relatives, but instead faced accusations of being prostitutes and drug addicts.
They also said they were forced to sign waivers and prevented from leaving the studio. The lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
In 2007, he was sued by a man who claimed he was falsely accused of fathering a child on his show. He said he agreed to take a paternity test to prove his innocence, but the show tampered with the results and declared him the father.
He also said he suffered emotional distress and damage to his reputation. A judge dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the First Amendment protected the program.
In 2015, he was sued by a woman who claimed that a producer on his show had raped her. She said she was invited onto his show to discuss her relationship with her boyfriend, but was instead taken to a hotel room and sexually assaulted by the producer.
She also said she was threatened and bullied by the show’s staff. The lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
Talk show host Maury Povich smiles as he is interviewed after watching the Washington Redskins during their NFL football training camp at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va., Monday, Aug. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Social media
- Instagram name: @officialmauryshow
- Twitter Username: @maurypovich
List of movies played
- Image maker
- The New Prince of Bel-Air
- How I Met Your Mother
- Madea’s Happy Family
- The Simpsons
- The girls
- Undefeated Kimmy Schmidt
- The Jim Gaffigan Show
- Night of
- President’s Program
