Hugh Downs, one of the most popular faces on television, announced in 1994 he was leaving regular programming to pursue other interests.

Downs started on "20/20" with its premier broadcast in June 1978. In addition to his role as an original co-anchor of "20/20", he has reported news features and profiled important personalities for the broadcast. In his reporting, he has concentrated on issues of science, medicine, aging, adventure, the fine arts and family. His widely acclaimed adventure stories and travel journals have been trademarks of his 21 years with "20/20". Every Friday, his weekly "Insite" commentary is featured on the Internet at ABCNEWS.com.

Downs has enjoyed a distinguished career in radio and television as a reporter, interviewer, narrator and host. In 1985, he was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as holding the record for the greatest number of hours on network commercial television. In September 1998, he celebrated his 60th anniversary in broadcasting.

In July 1957, he helped launch The Tonight Show with Jack Paar and stayed with the late-night series for five years. In August 1958, Mr. Downs became the host of the daytime game series, "Concentration". In September 1962, he began a nine-year career as host of NBC News Today, where each morning he reported to the nation on the news of the day and interviewed statesmen and leaders from around the world.

He left the Today show in October 1971 in order to "move on to other things and additional interests," including writing, teaching, lecturing, private consulting in communications and other opportunities in television. Hugh is the author of nine books. Once again, he says "the other things and additional interests" beckon.

He has authored an autobiography, Yours Truly, Hugh Downs. Doubleday published a collection of his science articles called Rings Around Tomorrow. His other books include, A Shoal of Stars, Potential, Thirty Dirty Lies About Old, On Camera: My 10,000 Hours on Television, and Fifty to Forever. His most recent book, Perspectives, is a collection of more than 50 of his most interesting essays, adapted from his 100-minute radio commentaries on the ABCV Radio Network.

Downs chairs the Research and Education Committee of the Geriatrics Advisory Council of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. And in June 1992, he received a certificate on Geriatric Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical School.

Downs and his wife, Ruth, have a home in Arizona, in addition to maintaining a residence in New York. They have two grown children, Hugh Raymond and Diedre Lynn, as well as two grown grandchildren.