News Andy Rooney dies at age 92

[ky]

(CBS News) Andy Rooney, the "60 Minutes" commentator known to generations for his wry, humorous and contentious television essays - a unique genre he is credited with inventing - died Friday night in a hospital in New York City of complications following minor surgery. He was 92, and had homes in New York City, Rensselaerville, N.Y. and Rowayton, Conn.


"It's a sad day at '60 Minutes' and for everybody here at CBS News," said Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and the executive producer of "60 Minutes." "It's hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much."


Rooney had announced on Oct. 2, 2011 in his 1,097th essay for "60 Minutes" that he would no longer appear regularly.


There is no better way to celebrate Andy Rooney's work than to let Andy do the talking.


Rooney wrote for television since its birth, spending more than 60 years at CBS, 30 of them behind the camera as a writer and producer, first for entertainment and then news programming, before becoming a television personality - a role he said he was never comfortable in. He preferred to be known as a writer and was the author of best-selling books and a national newspaper column, in addition to his "60 Minutes" essays.


But it is his television role as the inquisitive and cranky commentator on "60 Minutes" that made him a cultural icon. For over 30 years, Rooney had the last word on the most watched television program in history. Ratings for the broadcast rose steadily over its time period, peaking at a few minutes before the end of the hour, precisely when he delivered his essays - which could generate thousands of response letters.

Andy Rooneys last 60 minutes essay:

I always enjoyed watching 60 Minutes, but I mostly enjoyed listening to Andy Rooney's essays at the end of the show. A to Andy Rooney.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Sad, we lost a good one. Andy Rooney was a unique commentator. And he was a fellow wood-worker. That desk he had in his office, he made that himself.
I've got a few of his books, just collections of his essays. Funny reading. Particularly now that I'm older, he brought a lot of stuff to the page, that make more sense now, than when I initially read them. Farewell Andy Rooney, you'll be missed.

 

[Cras]

I always enjoyed his essays at the end of 60 minutes. He only retired a few weeks ago.

And yes, that desk.

 

[DanM]

60 Minutes was one of the better news shows out there. It's a sad day indeed.