The newscaster Uma Pemmaraju started broadcasting at Fox News Channel on Oct. 7, 1996 — the very day of the network’s launch.
Now Pemmaraju has died at the age of 64.
Fox Corporation executives confirmed the news on Tuesday.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of Uma Pemmaraju, who was one of FOX News Channel’s founding anchors and was on the air the day we launched,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“Uma was an incredibly talented journalist as well as a warm and lovely person, best known for her kindness to everyone she worked with. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her entire family.”
According to a Fox News obituary, Pemmaraju was born in India before a childhood move to San Antonio, Texas. She reportedly began her career in the area at the San Antonio Express-News.
In this part of her career, Pemmaraju served both at independent stations and huge conglomerates, including CBS News. She won an Emmy for reporting on a nearly drowned child in Baltimore, according to The Boston Globe.
Before long, Pemmaraju landed at Fox to anchor Fox News Now and Fox on Trends. After 2003, she reportedly served as a substitute host for several programs, like Fox News Live and The Fox Report.
Pemmaraju left Fox in 2018 to report on international and domestic business for Bloomberg News, according to LinkedIn. Recounting her long career at FNC, Pemmaraju reminisced about interviews with world leaders like Buzz Aldrin, Donald Trump and — perhaps most memorably — the Dalai Lama.
Take a look at this flashback featuring former Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J. —
.@ChrisChristie: "I'm very disappointed in Senator Rubio." @UmaPemmarajuhttps://t.co/ZQWkV1nwVO
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 23, 2016
Despite traveling across continents, Pemmaraju remained closely associated with Boston.
According to one obituary, she earned the title “Boston’s Best Anchor” from Boston magazine in 1996 and 1997, and she taught journalism at nearby Harvard University and Emerson College.
Speaking to CBS News Boston, her family called her “noble soul and pioneer.” The family has yet to release a cause of death.
The precise timeline of her death also remains unclear. According to her LinkedIn profile, Pemmaraju left Bloomberg in 2019 after only nine months.
Since the family’s announcement, Pemmaraju has earned touching tributes from colleagues and fans, like newscaster Megyn Kelly and former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.
Take a look —
So, so sorry to read this. Uma was a pro and always had a kind word for others – she was taken too soon. Sending love and prayers to her family. 🙏🏻 https://t.co/7fXPfiMpco
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) August 10, 2022
I was so sad to hear. @UmaPemmaraju was a beautiful person inside & out. Talented and kind. A cherished friend.
Original Fox News Channel anchor Uma Pemmaraju dies at 64 https://t.co/5HUt7GIPR3 #FoxNews— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) August 9, 2022
Loved Uma so much. She was kind and supportive, always smiling. God Bless her family. 🙏🏻
India-born Fox News Channel anchor Uma Pemmaraju, who helped launch the network in 1996 dies aged 64 | Daily Mail Online https://t.co/OtThrpA6UM
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) August 10, 2022
Very sad to hear this news .. Uma’s office was just a few doors down from mine when I first started at Fox. She was kind and welcoming and always has a smile for everyone. Original Fox News Channel anchor #UmaPemmaraju dies at 64 | @FoxNews https://t.co/BqJu0GZrtU
— Laura Ingle NOT Ingraham (@lauraingle) August 10, 2022
Another sad passing for WBZ.
Former Channel 4 anchor and reporter Uma Pemmaraju has passed away.
After leaving WBZ, she went on to be a national news anchor.
Her family tells me she was a “noble soul and pioneer” as an Indian Asian American news woman of prominence. #WBZ pic.twitter.com/FrW7o17p2A
— David Wade (@davidwade) August 8, 2022
The Horn editorial team