Kent Shocknek is an 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.[1] The city has designated two separate days "Kent Shocknek Day" in his honor. Before anchoring prime-time newscasts on CBS-TV owned stations, Shocknek was Southern California's first and longest-running television news morning news anchor.[1] 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.[2] 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.[1]
Career
editBorn Kent Schoknecht in Berkeley, California, he simplified the on-air spelling of his name upon arrival to Los Angeles television. After working at the Long Beach Press Telegram while attending the University of Southern California, Shocknek's first TV reporting job was in Sioux City, Iowa (KCAU-TV), followed by a three-year stint as anchor and Space Shuttle reporter in Orlando, Florida (WFTV).[3]
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.[4] 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.[5][6]
After helming the consistently top-rated KNBC program for 15 years, Shocknek moved to KCBS-TV and began anchoring the 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.[1] In November 2013, Shocknek and his popular morning coanchor Suzie Suh moved to prime-time spots on Los Angeles CBS TV-owned station KCAL-TV, anchoring #1-rated newscasts, KCAL 9 News at 8 pm and 10 pm. In a move that surprised viewers, he retired from newscasting in late 2014. Shocknek's final newscast —including a 10-minute career retrospective and farewell video featuring L.A. newsmakers and Hollywood celebrities— aired September 26, 2014.[7][8][9] 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 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.[1] Later, he launched Premiere Magazine Live!, a weekly national radio show about movies, in approximately 50 markets countrywide,[1] with his wife Karen, using the on-air surname Walters, working as co-host.[3]
Filmography
edit| Film | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | |
| Lake Jesup: Bonecrusher's Revenge | 2025 | Paul | ||
| The SubContractors | 2025 | James | Feature film, also co-producer | |
| Lilly | 2024 | Man at grocery store | ||
| Raveland | 2023 | Jacobed's father | ||
| Very Close Friends | 2021 | Man | Short film, male lead, also co-producer | |
| The Chosen One? | 2021 | Solemn Leader | ||
| Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon | 2021 | TV New Anchor | Cannes Film Festival official entry | |
| Take Me to Tarzana | 2021 | Himself | 4 film festival official entry | |
| Lucy in the Sky | 2019 | Himself | Also known as Pale Blue Dot | |
| Speeeed Dating | 2018 | Man No. 4 | Short film | |
| Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | 2016 | Himself | ||
| The Vatican Tapes | 2015 | TV Interviewer | Uncredited | |
| Nightcrawler | 2014 | Himself | ||
| The Six O'Clock | 2014 | Man | Short film, male lead | |
| Jobs | 2013 | 1980 Newscaster | ||
| The Amazing Spider-Man | 2012 | TV Newscaster | Uncredited | |
| Ultraman Saga | 2012 | Capt. Hibiki | Voice | |
| Brake | 2012 | News Anchor Jack Stern | ||
| Fast Five | 2011 | News Anchor | ||
| The Chosen One | 2010 | Newscaster | ||
| The Company Men | 2010 | Rittenour | ||
| Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy | 2010 | Battlenizer | Voice | |
| Imagine That | 2009 | Financial Reporter | ||
| Eagle Eye | 2008 | Newscaster | ||
| Winged Creatures | 2008 | Hospital Reporter | Originally titled Fragments, released on DVD as Winged Creatures | |
| Superhero Movie | 2008 | News Anchor | ||
| Parasomnia | 2008 | Himself | ||
| Disturbia | 2007 | News Anchor | ||
| Primeval | 2007 | Newscaster | ||
| xXx: State of the Union | 2005 | Newscaster | ||
| Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie | 2004 | Network Reporter | Direct-to-video | |
| First Daughter | 2004 | Contentious Reporter | ||
| Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | 2004 | Network Reporter | ||
| The Terminal | 2004 | Newscaster #1 | Uncredited | |
| Envy | 2004 | Newscaster | ||
| A View to a Kill | 1985 | Fisherman | Uncredited | |
| Television | ||
|---|---|---|
| Title | Role | Notes |
| Bosch: Legacy | L.A. Newscaster | 3 episodes IMDb TV/Amazon |
| NCIS | Guy Ross/Male Reporter | 11 episodes |
| Bull | Interviewer, badgering reporter | Season 4 ep17: "The Invisible Woman," and Season 6 episode 16: "The Diana Affair" |
| Sherman's Showcase | Kent Shocknek | IFC/Hulu |
| Shrill | Local newscaster | Hulu |
| SpongeBob DocuPants | Host | Nickelodeon: 8 episodes |
| Secrets of Sulphur Springs | News Anchor | Feifer Worldwide Entertainment |
| Bosch | Himself/Newscaster/News Anchor | 10 episodes |
| Tommy | News Anchor | Season 1: episodes 7, 10 |
| Manhunt: Dangerous Games | Anchor No. 1 | The title of the second Manhunt: Unabomber Season 2 episodes 1,2,5 |
| Manifest | News Anchor | Season 2 episode 5: "Coordinated Flight" |
| Liberty Falls | Pierce Brennan | TV movie |
| The Righteous Gemstones | Announcer | HBO |
| 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
edit- 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
editB.A., University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Kent Shocknek". KCBS/KCAL Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
- ^ Kent Shocknek at IMDb
- ^ a b Kent Shocknek's Web Site: http://kentshocknek.com
- ^ Braxton, Greg (February 9, 2001). "News Shift Results in Shake-Up at KNBC". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ Kent Shocknek video bio. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Earthquake captured on LIVE TV – TV Anchor freaks out!. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Kent Shocknek video bio. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Longtime Anchor Kent Shocknek Signs Off From Local News". KCAL/KCBS. September 26, 2014.
- ^ Morrison, Patt (September 30, 2014). "No more Mr. News Guy – L.A. anchor Kent Shocknek signs off". Los Angeles Times.