Kent Shocknek

Kent Shocknek, TV & film personality. USC BA, Phi Beta Kappa. Kent Shocknek is an Emmy Award winning American television and film personality who branched into acting toward the end of a successful career as a TV newscaster. Because of the length of his journalism career, duration of his broadcasts, and breaking news events, by the time of his departure from news, he is credited with having logged more hours as an anchor than anyone else in Los Angeles. Because of his recognizability, he has been sought out to appear in more than 100 feature films and television dramas –often as a newscaster or commentator –giving rise to a popular second career that continues currently. On radio, Shocknek has narrated daily commentaries in L.A., and has hosted a nationally syndicated entertainment program. Viewers and magazine readers also recognize him as an authority on automotive issues.

In 1983, Shocknek joined KNBC-TV as a reporter and fill-in anchor for what was then known as News4LA. Three years later, he anchored the start-up of L.A.'s first TV morning news program, Today in LA on KNBC-TV. Over the years, he broadcast —frequently single-handedly— such marathon events as the Los Angeles riots, O.J. Simpson murder trial, and numerous natural disasters.

Shocknek first made national news headlines anchoring the 1986 launch and explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger; and a strong aftershock to the deadly 5.9 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. The threat of falling studio lights forced Shocknek to take cover under his set's desk for several seconds as he continued reporting about ground- and studio movement.

After helming the consistently top-rated KNBC program for 15 years, Shocknek moved to KCBS-TV to anchor morning editions of CBS 2 News in 2001. There, L.A. Confidential magazine named him one of L.A.'s top three anchors. He anchored live the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, and subsequently reported live on the War in Iraq, Michael Jackson's funeral, presidential inaugurations; plus Southern California's seasonal wildfires and frequent high-speed freeway chases. Various local governments and agencies, including the City and County of Los Angeles, as well as the State of California, have honored him for his work.

Shocknek has continued his presence in front of the camera, portraying newscasters and various authority figures in more than 100 major Hollywood film & TV productions and independent films. He has worked with directors Steven Spielberg, Adam McKay in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Barry Levinson, and Justin Lin, among others. On television, Shocknek has marked more than a dozen appearances as newsman "Guy Ross" in the crime procedural drama NCIS and its spin-off series, NCIS: Los Angeles. He also has held recurring roles in Criminal Minds, and the Amazon series, Bosch.

Shocknek's voice is almost as well known as his image; he began writing and delivering the 60-second daily radio commentary Just A Minute with Kent Shocknek on CBS all-news radio station KNX-1070 AM in Los Angeles, in 2003. Later, he launched Premiere Magazine Live!, a weekly national radio show about movies, in approximately 50 markets countrywide, with his wife Karen, using the on-air surname Walters, working as co-host.

Filmography Television Title Role NotesLanternsNews AnchorHBO MaxBosch: LegacyL.A. Newscaster3 episodes IMDb TV/Amazon NCIS Guy Ross/Male Reporter 11 episodesBullInterviewer, badgering reporterSeason 4 ep17: "The Invisible Woman," and Season 6 episode 16: "The Diana Affair"Sherman's ShowcaseKent ShocknekIFC/HuluShrillLocal newscasterHuluSpongeBob DocuPantsHostNickelodeon: 8 episodesSecrets of Sulphur SpringsNews AnchorFeifer Worldwide Entertainment Bosch Himself/Newscaster/News Anchor10 episodesTommyNews AnchorSeason 1: episodes 7, 10Manhunt: Dangerous Games Anchor No. 1 The title of the second Manhunt: Unabomber Season 2 episodes 1,2,5ManifestNews AnchorSeason 2 episode 5: "Coordinated Flight" Liberty Falls Pierce Brennan TV movie The Righteous Gemstones AnnouncerHBO Documentary Now! TV Reporter Season 3 episodes 1 and 2: "Batsh*t Valley, Parts 1 & 2" Madam Secretary News Anchor #1/News Anchor/Anchor 5 episodes Supergirl Newscaster Season 1 episode 12: "Bizarro" Brooklyn Nine-Nine Slade Austin Season 4 episode 3: "Coral Palms Pt. 3" NCIS: Los Angeles News Reporter/Reporter/News Anchor 6 episodes Intelligence Reporter/Newscaster 4 episodes Legends CBN Reporter Season 1 episode 8: "Iconoclast" Under the Dome Newscaster Season 1 episode 1: "Pilot" Criminal Minds News Reporter/News Anchor Kent/Reporter John Jenkins 3 episodes The Mentalist Newscaster Season 4 episode 15: "War of the Roses" CSI: NY Reporter Season 6 episode 12: "Criminal Justice" True Jackson, VP Himself Season 1 episode 17: "Max Mannequin" and season 2 episode 13: "True Royal" Medium Newscaster Season 6 episode 10: "You Give Me Fever" FlashForward Hansen/Medical Correspondent 4 episodes Washington Field David Sumner TV movie Meteor WNN Overnight Anchor/Anchorman Episodes: #1.1 and #1.2 The Sarah Silverman Program TV Reporter/Anchor Season 2 episode 10: "Patriot Tact" and Season 2 episode 16: "Vow Wow" The Unit TV Newscaster Season 4 episode 1: "Into Hell: Part One" Dirty Sexy Money Channel 10 Reporter Season 2 episode 12: ""The Family Lawyer" Grave Misconduct TV Reporter TV movie ER News Reporter Season 14 episode 17: "Under Pressure" Monk TV Reporter Season 6 episode 12: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Bank" Shark Newscaster/TV Reporter/Reporter 3 episodes Commander in Chief News Anchor Ben/News Anchor Season 1 episode 11: "No Nukes Is Good Nukes" and Season 1 episode 16: The Elephant in the Room The West Wing Anchorman Season 6 episode 20: "In God We Trust" Blossom Himself Season 4 episode 14: "Big Doings: Part 2"

Awards 8 regional Emmy Awards (individual and group) 2 L.A. Press Club Awards Golden Mic. Award (Best Daytime Newscast) Wm. Randolph Hearst Award (investigative reporting)

Education B.A., University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa