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Huell Howser, Popular California TV Host, Dead at 67

Huell Howser, Popular California TV Host, Dead at 67

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The folksy Howser, who inspired parodies but was loved by viewers, had recently announced his retirement.

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Huell Howser, the popular, folksy California public television host who recently announced his retirement, died Sunday night at age 67.

Howser hosted several travelogue series about points of interest in the Golden State, most recently California's Gold. He displayed "an awestruck curiosity and relentless enthusiasm," notes the Los Angeles Times, and his gee-whiz style made him both a target of parodists and a favorite of viewers. In the past, some media reports have alluded to Howser being gay, but that has never been confirmed.

An assistant of Howser's announced his death; no other details were released, the Times reports. Howser had announced his retirement November 27.

"Huell was able to brilliantly capture the wonder in obscurity," Al Jerome, president and chief executive of Los Angeles public TV station KCET, told the Times. "From pastrami sandwiches and scarves loomed from lint to the exoticism of cactus gardens and the splendor of Yosemite, he brought us the magic, the humor and poignancy of our region. We will miss him very much."

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.