Meredith Vieira’s husband, Richard Cohen, died at age 76 following a battle with multiple sclerosis.
The Today show confirmed on Tuesday, January 7, that Cohen died on Christmas Eve after living with the disease for over 50 years. Today show host Hoda Kotb shared with viewers that Cohen was “surrounded by his family and love” at the time of his death.
The family had been together at Thanksgiving, Kotb continued, telling viewers that they were “concerned” about losing him early. “Instead, they got a glorious month with their dad,” she said.
Today cohost Savannah Guthrie said that Vieira is “in really good spirits” following Cohen’s death.
“She was such a beautiful and devoted wife to Richard and he adored Meredith,” Guthrie added. “And hanging out with them, they were like the most fun and entertaining, irreverent, cool couple you could hang out with.”
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In addition to his MS diagnosis, which Cohen received at age 25, he survived colon cancer twice.
Cohen previously revealed that he told the journalist about his MS diagnosis on their second date. The two got married in 1986.
“I told her about the illness, because I sort of learned the hard way to get it on the table,” Cohen said during a 2019 interview with Yahoo Life. “And she really didn’t blink.”
Vieira noted that MS “wasn’t enough” to scare her off.
She spoke candidly about her husband’s illness during a separate interview with People that same year, telling the publication that Cohen was “doing OK.” At the time, he was also declared legally blind.
“It’s a progressive illness, so you don’t know from day to day,” Vieira said. “He needs a walker, and since he’s been using it, he’s much stronger. It was something he dreaded, but it’s been a blessing.”
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The journalist noted that she and Cohen “definitely allow each other to vent” during the tough times. (Vieira left Today in 2011 to spend more time with Cohen, but continued to host various TV series over the years including the 25 Words or Less game show.)
“That’s part of the deal. Certainly he’s allowed to vent, because he’s got chronic illness. But I am too,” she said. “Because there are days I can’t stand it and the limitations it puts on the entire family. It’s good to say it. But we don’t dwell.”
Cohen is survived by wife Vieira, 71, and their three kids, Benjamin, 36, Gabriel 34, and Lily, 32.
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