Aaron Brown, the former CNN anchor celebrated for his distinguished coverage of the September 11 terrorist attacks, died Sunday at age 76, his family confirmed to CNN. No cause of death was provided.
Brown made an unexpected but memorable CNN debut on September 11, 2001, reporting live from the network's Manhattan rooftop for 17 consecutive hours as the attacks unfolded. His calm and measured delivery during one of America's darkest days earned him the Edward R. Murrow Award and established him as a trusted voice in broadcast journalism.
"I think when that building fell, I understood better than any other point in my life, before or since, what a hero meant," Brown reflected in 2016 about witnessing the World Trade Center collapse.
The Minnesota native began his career as a radio host in Minneapolis before serving in the Coast Guard Reserve. He spent 15 years at local TV stations in Seattle before joining ABC News, where he became the founding anchor of "World News Now" and later hosted "World News Tonight Saturday" and "Good Morning America Sunday."
At CNN, Brown anchored "NewsNight" and covered major events including the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle disaster, and the 2004 Indonesian tsunami. He earned three Emmy Awards during his career, including one for his Iraq War reporting.
Former colleague Anderson Cooper remembered Brown as "thoughtful, funny, and diligent" with "a truly unique talent and a beautiful way with words."
After leaving CNN in 2005, Brown joined Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism as the Rhodes Chair in Public Policy and American Institutions, where he became a respected lecturer.
Throughout his career, Brown was known for his sharp writing skills, precise delivery, and willingness to acknowledge uncertainty in breaking news situations. His legacy in broadcast journalism spans decades of thoughtful reporting and mentorship of fellow journalists.