Local Broadcasting Legend Roy Leonard Dies At Age 83
By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 5, 2014 2:00PM
Roy Leonard, a stalwart broadcaster at WGN TV and Radio for decades, died Thursday night at Evanston Hospital, where he was being treated for a severe esophageal infection. Mr. Leonard was 83.
Mr. Leonard came to Chicago from Boston in 1967 and immediately found success as WGN Radio’s midday host, a position he would hold until 1995; he would host weekends at the station until his 1998 retirement. During that span he became one of Chicago’s most respected and trusted arts critics. In 1985, Mr. Leonard succeeded the late Frazier Thomas as host of WGN TV’s long-running Sunday movie series “Family Classics.” WGN Radio’s wattage and reach made Mr. Leonard’s show a destination for actors, authors, musicians and others looking to promote their latest projects.
Mr. Leonard told media critic Robert Feder after he retired, “You know, I’d been there, done that. So there wasn’t much else I wanted to do.” Besides, he added, “I wanted to quit while I knew I was ahead. I never wanted to overhear someone saying, ‘Why is he still hanging around here?’ ”
In recent years, Mr. Leonard used his website as a repository for his numerous reviews—he was a passionate advocate of local theater—as well as offer everyday thoughts. His wife Sheila preceded him in death and he is survived by sons Kip, Kerry, Kolin, Kent, Kyle and Kelly, their wives and eight grandchildren.