Former Today cohost Bryant Gumbel appears to be on the mend following his recent hospitalization.
TMZ published photos on Saturday, October 25, that showed Bryant, 77, and his wife, Hilary Gumbel, walking on the streets of New York City. Bryant — who appeared to be in good spirits — wore a bomber jacket and a New York Yankees baseball cap as the couple walked their dog through NYC.
The outlet previously reported on Monday, October 20, that Gumbel suffered a “medical emergency” that necessitated him being transported from his apartment building to a Manhattan hospital. His loved ones declined to specify what caused Gumbel’s hospitalization, though a family member told TMZ that the four-time Emmy Award winner was doing “OK.”
His wife Hilary subsequently shared a hopeful image of the sunshine peeking through a tree on her Instagram Story, along with the caption: “Gratitude.”
Bryant has had some serious health issues in the past — most notably undergoing surgery in October 2009 to remove a malignant tumor near one of his lungs.
“It’s nothing to hide from. They opened up my chest, they took a malignant tumor and they took part of my lung and they took some other goodies,” Gumbel explained on a 2009 episode of Live With Regis and Kelly. “The pathology on most of the stuff had been benign, but enough aggressive cells had escaped the tumor that it warranted some treatment and I went through that and it’s done now.”
Bryant lost his older brother Greg Gumbel — an esteemed sports broadcaster who worked for CBS and NBC over a 50-year career — in December 2024. CBS Sports confirmed Greg’s death at age 78 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,” Greg’s family said in a joint statement last December. “He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer.”
His family said that Greg “approached his illness” by showing his loved ones “stoicism, grace, and positivity.”
“[Greg] leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” they added. “Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.”
Greg Gumbel and Bryant Gumbel in September 2014. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF
Greg’s longtime CBS Sports colleague Jim Nantz described the late sportscaster as “broadcasting royalty.”
“He was as selfless a broadcaster as anyone in the industry has ever known. Our careers intersected for nearly 35 years, and he was the consummate teammate and friend,” Nantz. “There’s not a member of the CBS Sports family who doesn’t have a sweet or kind memory of Greg. I have so much love and respect for him, and I’m going to miss him dearly.”
Meanwhile, Bryant has had his own esteemed career in both news and sportscasting. He cohosted NBC’s Today for 15 years and later covered the 9/11 terror attacks for CBS’s The Early Show in September 2001.
He hosted and executive produced HBO’s sports news magazine series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, for which he won three Peabody Awards and received an astounding 37 Sports Emmy Awards. Real Sports concluded in December 2023 after 29 seasons on HBO.
Away from the small screen, Bryant shares two grown children, Jillian Beth Gumbel and Bradley Christopher Gumbel, from his first marriage to June Baranco. Bryant’s first marriage ended in 2001 and he wed his second wife Hilary the following year.
