The news this morning of the death of entertainment journalist Sam Rubin has touched a nerve in Los Angeles, with his home base KTLA going live and commercial free with remembrances and tributes from the top of the 1 o’clock news through the station’s regularly-scheduled programming at 2 p.m. and right into the KTLA News at 3.
Among those calling in was Henry Winkler, who was one of Rubin’s favorite guests.
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“It’s the most horrible thing,” Winkler said via phone from an airport. “Two things I know: He made you feel special every single time [he interviewed you], and I am not the only person who felt that special warmth.”
Jerry O’Connell, another regular on the show, spoke with the anchors on air.
“The man was a legend. Everyone is going to have a story about how Mr. Rubin touched them, personally. My first live interview was with Sam at KTLA. The entertainment industry is a scary place, it is a competitive place…Sam greeted everyone with warmth and open arms.”
A noticeably-distraught Danny Trejo called in from Canada where he was traveling, saying of Rubin, “He was somebody if you met him, you’d call him a friend. I’m in Canada right now and they’re calling me and [I go], “Oh man, not my buddy” He was just a real sweetheart of a guy.” Trejo then asked the anchors to let him know about memorial services saying, “If I can, I’ll be there.”
Actor Greg Grunberg phoned in to pay tribute, dubbing Rubin “a mensch with a microphone,” and choking up as he thanked the anchors for allowing him time on-air to remember is friend. Grunberg also took to Twitter to express his feelings.
Former NCIS star Pauley Perrette told KTLA, “I just can’t believe this. Sam was so different than everyone else in this whole industry. Part of that job is just endless interviews, and it just wasn’t my favorite part of the job. But Sam was different.”
Barbara Beck, one of the original co-hosts of the KTLA Morning News, also remembered her colleague. “I have already been asked, ‘How will they (KTLA) replace Sam Rubin?’ There is only one answer: ‘That’s impossible.’ Rest in peace, Sammy.”
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I grew up in the East Valley at the same time television was growing up in the same place. I don’t follow celebrity news or fan magazines (digital or paper). I find most “Hollywood” reporters to be gossipy or starstruck.
But Sam reported on the business. The industry. For the parts of LA County that are enmeshed with the movie and television biz, that’s what’s important, because the industry supports so much of the local economy, from small restaurants to large prop houses.
As so many folks have said, Sam’s interviews were unique, entertaining, and informative. I start my mornings with KTLA and Sam has been a big part of my daily wake-up routine as I sipped my coffee at 7:15 a.m.
I interned at KTLA back in the day and got to see some L.A. legends in action: Stan Chambers, Hal Fishman and Sam Rubin. Each one of them brought something special to work with them, but Sam was a little different. Sam loved Hollywood and films, you could see how happy he was doing entertainment journalism. It just exuded him and his aura. What an experience to just witness these great men in action. Forever grateful!
If there is any one thing Hollywood can agree on as a whole, it’s that Sam Rubin was a class act.
Sam Rubin was the gold standard of Hollywood reporting. It’s an almost impossible accomplishment to be beloved in our industry, but Sam pulled it off with style and class. They just aren’t making guys like that anymore.
When have you ever heard of actors liking an entertainment reporter? It shows how special he was. I always enjoyed watching him. His warmth came across.