Sam Donaldson and Jan Smith
The word is that veteran ABC newsman Sam Donaldson, 78, and his wife Jan Smith Donaldson will be splitting up after 29 years of marriage.
Smith, 57, who once worked at WDAF-TV as a reporter and is fondly remembered by anchor Phil Witt, married Donaldson in 1983. It was the third marriage for Donaldson, who was known as an outspoken (and often abrasive) White House correspondent.
The couple had no children, but Donaldson has four from his previous marriages.
Veteran WDAF-TV anchor Phil Witt gave us his thoughts on the split.
“Jan worked for us for several years in the early 1980s,” he told Bottom Line. ”She and Sam were dating when she was here and Sam spent a lot of time in Kansas City when that was happening. Jan was a terrific reporter for us. She did a great job on politics and government and as our city hall reporter at the time.
“I have a lot of respect and fondness for both of them and wish them both well and hope they are happy as their lives move forward.”
FITZ: A DAMN SHAME
This is a damn shame, John…Jan was and is a great-looking woman and very friendly.
Back in the early 80s, before she married Donaldson, I saw her in the milk aisle at the old Milgram’s at 50th and Main one day. Never one to let an opportunity slip through my fingers, I went up and introduced myself, made some small talk and then, of course, asked her out.
She said, “Oh, I’m dating someone.”
Later I found out it was this rat. Has there ever been a more off-putting journalist than Sam Donaldson?
The only person I can think of, locally, who might come close is the sonorous Dave Helling. At least Helling has kept his vows to his wife.
ORNERY TOUPEE
I once caught one of Sam’s toupees in my beaver trap when it was floating down the Mighty Mo in the ’80s. Don’t know how it got there. It was an ornery critter.
PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE IMAGE
So according to Jim Fitzpatrick, women considering relationships with on-camera talent should only consider their public image.
I’ve been around Sam a couple of times away from the biz and he’s a great fun guy to be around. Dave too.
What you see on cam is often vastly different that what you get off cam.
CLEARED UP
Thank God I got that cleared up. People acting very differently behind the camera. Isn’t that called being phoney?
I’m sorry to hear anyone has to go through the pain of divorce but I could care less about Donaldson.
DUI CHARGE
I wonder if it has anything to do with Sam getting busted in Lewes, DE for DUI. The cop who took him in, “never heard of him.”
SAM AND NEIL DIAMOND?
John,
Were Sam and Neil Diamond separated at birth? Put the photo from above (with Sam in tux) alongside a recent photo of Diamond. It’s scary how much they look alike.
Just sayin’.
Wow. They do. I plugged it into the story. Thanks.