Leeza Gibbons
Talk show host and frequent television series guest star Leeza Gibbons currently hosts Leeza Live, her very own radio talk show. This busy hostess and television personality is also the founder of Leeza’s Place, a support center for caregivers of those affected by memory disorders. Leeza was awarded the Congressional Horizon Award for her humanitarian efforts in the area of issues affecting children, proving she is a caring person in addition to being a popular television personality.
Leeza Gibbons was born on March 26, 1957, in Hartsville, South Carolina. She studied journalism and mass communication at the University of South Carolina. Gibbons began her career as hostess extraordinaire when she appeared as a co-host on Evening Magazine in the 1970s. This led to more hosting gigs for televised events like the Miss Universe Pageant and Candid Camera’s 50th Anniversary. She also made guest appearances on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring Will Smith; Cybill, featuring Cybill Shephard; and Murphy Brown, starring Candice Bergen.
In 1994, she was awarded her own, self-titled talk show, and she left her position on Entertainment Tonight to concentrate on the exciting opportunity. Leeza enjoyed a successful run, lasting until 1999. It was widely syndicated. After the show’s end, she continued to add to her growing list of appearances and hosting gigs, and landed a hosting spot on the entertainment television program Extra in 2000, eventually departing the show in 2003.
Since then she hosted an episode of The Simple Life, following the misadventures of spoiled ex-pals Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton, and also served as a judge for the Miss America Pageant. Currently, Leeza hosts her own radio talk show Leeza Live. It is reported that she was considered to take the place of Kathie Lee Gifford, the spot that was ultimately filled by Kelly Ripa, as Regis Philbin’s co-host. Gibbons, however, reportedly did not want to move from L.A to take the job.
Leeza was a contestant on the 2007 installment of the ABC hit series Dancing With the Stars. Fellow celebrity competitors included boxer Laila Ali, Billy Ray Cyrus, Paulina Porizkova, and Heather Mills, the former wife of Beatle Paul McCartney.
With three ex-husbands and counting, Leeza’s list of former beaus may one day rival her long list of television jobs. She married John Hicks, her first husband in 1980. The pair split a short time later in 1982. In 1988, Gibbons remarried. Her second husband was English actor Chris Quinten. That relationship, like her first, lasted only two years. During their short marriage, Gibbons gave birth to daughter Lexi. She married actor Stephen Meadows in 1991. Sons Troy and Nathan were born in 1992 and 1997 respectively.
After fifteen years, it seemed as though Leeza had finally found her partner for life. Meadows, however, filed for divorce in 2005, citing irreconcilable differences.
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