Bill Moyers, the longtime journalist and former White House Press Secretary, died on June 26, 2025, at a hospital in Manhattan. He was 91.
Moyers, who once served as a top aide to President Lyndon B. Johnson before becoming a trusted voice in American media, passed away from complications related to prostate cancer. According to CNN, his son, William, confirmed that he died at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York following a lengthy illness.
His journey in journalism started young—just 16—when he worked as a cub reporter for the Marshall News Messenger in his Texas hometown. Over the decades, Moyers went on to wear many hats: founding deputy director of the Peace Corps, Johnson’s press secretary from 1965 to 1967, and later, publisher of Newsday.
By the late 1970s, Moyers had made the leap to television, joining CBS News as editor and chief correspondent for CBS Reports. He continued to contribute as a senior news analyst on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather until 1986.
Outside the newsroom, he authored several bestselling books—The Power of Myth, Healing and the Mind, and Moyers on Democracy, among others—and remained deeply committed to public broadcasting. Much of his later work was produced in collaboration with his wife of 70 years, Judith Suzanne Davidson, with whom he also ran the Schumann Media Center, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting independent journalism.
In addition to Judith, Moyers is survived by their three children and five grandchildren.
Bill and His Wife, Judith, Were High School Sweethearts
Moyers met Judith Suzanne Davidson while they were both students in Marshall, Texas. They got married on December 18, 1954, and stayed together for the rest of their life.
Not long after their wedding, they found themselves enrolled in the same economics class during their final semester at the University of Texas. Judith later recalled a funny moment from that class: she received an A, while Bill got a B. Surprised, he went to the professor to ask why. “She’s your wife?” the professor responded. “I thought she was your sister. Had I known you were married I would never have let that happen.”
Bill finished his degree in journalism from college in 1956.
They Had Been Creative Partners Over The Years
Bill and Judith Moyers worked side by side for decades, building a media legacy rooted in public service and hard-hitting journalism. In 1986, they launched Public Affairs Television, the production company behind a long list of award-winning news programs and documentaries.
Judith started her career in the Sales Promotion Division at Texas Electric Company before taking on a central role in their media ventures. She served as Executive Editor of Moyers & Company and eventually became CEO of the company. Together, they created thoughtful programming that covered topics like politics, addiction, free speech, and public health.
Some of their most recognized work included In Search of the Constitution, Trading Democracy, The Public Mind, Free Speech for Sale, Moyers on Addiction: Close to Home, Sports for Sale, NOW with Bill Moyers, Moyers on America, and On Our Own Terms.
Judith also built her own standing in the field. She’s a member of the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and has been honored with multiple Emmys, two Peabody Awards, a DuPont Award, and the Christopher Award.
Outside of broadcasting, she held several leadership roles, including more than a decade on the board of the State University of New York.
The Couple Had Three Children
The Moyers duo raised three children together—Suzanne, William, and John.
Suzanne, their daughter, worked as a teacher and editor. She also wrote a historical novel titled ’Til All These Things Be Done.
William, one of their sons, worked as a CNN producer and currently serves as Vice President of Public Affairs and Community Relations at the Hazelden Foundation. He’s also appeared on Good Morning America, often speaking about addiction and recovery.
Their youngest, John, launched the Internet journal TomPaine.com in 1998. Before that, he held roles with the Sierra Club and served as executive director of the Florence and John Schumann Foundation throughout much of the ’90s.
How Much Was Bill Moyers’s Worth?
At the time of his death, Moyers was worth an estimated $7 million. His earnings came from a mix of political work, journalism, book deals, and television production.
While no official details have been shared, it’s likely his wife and three children will inherit the estate.
