(picture: NYDaily News 4/5/12)

It is with much regret to inform you that Gil Noble has passed away.

Gil Noble (born February 22, 1932 in [[Harlem, New York]-April 5,
2012])[1] is an American television reporter and interviewer. He was
the producer and host of New York City television station WABC-TV's
weekly, Like It Is, originally co-hosted with Melba Tolliver.[2] The
program focused primarily on issues concerning African Americans and
those within the African diaspora.[3]

Noble joined WABC in July 1967 as a reporter, and starting in January
1968 became an anchor of its Saturday and Sunday night newscasts. He
became host of Like It Is a few months prior to the rebranding of the
station's newscasts as Eyewitness News in November 1968. In addition,
he was an occasional interviewer on some of WABC's other public
affairs shows, such as Eyewitness Exclusive. From 1986 on, Noble
concentrated exclusively on Like It Is.

Noble also created documentaries on such topics as W. E. B. Du Bois,
Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Decade of Struggle, Martin
Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Jack Johnson, Charlie
Parker and Essay on Drugs. In 1977, he wrote, directed and produced
the first documentary on Paul Robeson, entitled The Tallest Tree in
Our Forest.

In 1973, Noble reported (for local TV station WABC channel 7) on the
first mobile cellular phone invented by Marty Cooper from the NY
Hilton in New York.

Noble won four Emmy Awards.[1] In 1981, he wrote an autobiography,
Black is the Color of My TV Tube.[1]

Noble was a supporter of The Jazz Foundation of America, hosting the
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007 "A Great Night in Harlem" Concert /
Benefit for The Jazz Foundation to support The Musicians Emergency
Fund.[4] He is also a member of the Board of Directors.[5]

In July 2011, Noble suffered a serious stroke.[6] In late September,
his family announced that Noble would not be returning to host Like It
Is.


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