Veteran CBS broadcaster Charles Osgood has died at age 91, his family announced.
Osgood hosted CBS Sunday Morning for 22 years and was host of the long-running radio show The Osgood File.
The lifelong journalist died of dementia, his family confirmed.
He spent 45 years at CBS News before retiring in September 2016.
“For years, people — even friends and family — have asked me why I keep doing this given my age,” Osgood said upon his retirement.
“It was just so much fun!” Who wouldn't want to be the one to introduce these great storytellers and the producers, writers and others who put this wonderful show together?
Television and radio host Charles Osgood attends the New York premiere of Nora Ephron's “Julie & Julia” at the Metropolitan Club
Osgood was called “one of the last great broadcast writers” by Charles Kuralt, whom Osgood succeeded as host of the Sunday morning magazine show in 1994.
“To say there is no one like Charles Osgood is an understatement,” said Rand Morrison, executive producer of “Sunday Morning.”
“He embodied the heart and soul of 'Sunday Morning.'” His signature bow tie, his poetry… his presence alone was special to the audience and to those of us who worked with him.
Adding: “At the piano, Charlie put our lives to music. “He was truly one of a kind – in every way.”
Osgood was also a talented poet and author and often played the piano during his Sunday morning show during the holidays.
His talents also extended to organ, banjo and violin and he was an accomplished composer and lyricist who could also sing along.
He sometimes performed with professional orchestras such as the New York Pops, the Boston Pops and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.