David Hartman

David Downs Hartman (born May 19, 1935) is an American journalist and media host who began his media career as an actor. He currently anchors and hosts documentary programs on History and PBS. Hartman is best known as the first host of ABC's Good Morning America, from 1975 to 1987. As an actor, he starred in the 1970s as a young resident, Dr. Paul Hunter, on The Bold Ones: The New Doctors and as a teacher in the series Lucas Tanner. He acted in the 1973 TV movie remake of Miracle on 34th Street.

Early life Hartman was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the son of Fannie Rodman (Downs) and Cyril Baldwin Hartman.

Acting career (1964–1975) Hartman appeared in two Broadway shows: the original Hello, Dolly! in 1964, and The Yearling (1965). After working in films such as the Doris Day comedy The Ballad of Josie (1967), Nobody's Perfect (1968), and Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? (1968) with Phyllis Diller, he refocused on television. He appeared in The Virginian in 1969 and won attention as a dedicated doctor on The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, earning a nomination for a Golden Globe award. Hartman played a lead role alongside Hal Linden in the industrial musical Diesel Dazzle (1966).

News and broadcasting career (1975–present) On November 3, 1975, Hartman became the original male co-host of ABC's new morning news show, Good Morning America (1975–1987). During his 11 years as a co-host, GMA would often be the highest-rated morning news program on network television. Although Hartman did not have a journalism background, he professionally conducted more than 12,000 interviews during his time on the show.

Hartman usually closed each Good Morning America broadcast with the same benediction: "Make it a good day today." In a statement that Hartman prepared for the 30th anniversary GMA broadcast in 2005, he explained, "My daily sign-off line, 'Make it a good day today,' reflected 'GMA's' values and the belief that each of us can affect our lives in a positive way, that our program was, we hoped, a public service."

Hartman has been an anchor and host of a series of documentaries on the Discovery Channel and PBS member station WNET in New York City. Produced by James Nicoloro, the PBS documentaries are a series of "Walk Through" documentaries about various communities around New York City, which include A Walk Down 42nd Street (August 1998), A Walk Up Broadway (March 1999), A Walk Through Harlem (December 1999), A Walk Around Brooklyn with David Hartman and Historian Barry Lewis (2000), A Walk Through Greenwich Village (2001), A Walk Through Central Park (2001), A Walk Through Newark (2002), A Walk Through Hoboken (2003), A Walk Through Queens (2004), A Walk Through the Bronx (2005), and A Walk Around Staten Island (2007).

Hartman was the 2017 recipient of the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award.

Personal life Hartman was married to Maureen Downey from 1974 until her death on September 17, 1997. They had four children together. In 2001, he married Mary Clark Putman, a widowed homemaker.

Filmography + Films Title Role Director Year Notes # The Ballad of Josie Sheriff Fonse Pruitt Andrew V. McLaglen 1967 Theatrical release Nobody's Perfect Boats McCafferty Alan Rafkin 1968 Theatrical release Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? Constable Don Weis 1968 Theatrical release The Virginian David Sutton Charles S. Dubin 19681968–1969 complete season 7 (26 episodes) The Feminist and the Fuzz Officer Jerry Frazer Jerry Paris 1971 Made for television I Love a Mystery Doc Long Leslie Stevens 1968 Unsold pilot filmed in 1966, later shown on NBC and in syndication You'll Never See Me Again Ned Bilss Jeannot Szwarc 1973 Made for television Miracle on 34th Street Bill Schaffner Fielder Cook 1973 Made for television The Island at the Top of the World Prof. Ivarsson Robert Stevenson 1974 Theatrical release