Best Known As: Television Actor

Gist:  Meredith Louise Vieira (born December 30, 1953) is an American journalist, television personality, and game show host. She currently co-hosts NBC's Today as well as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in syndication and she contributes to Dateline NBC. She previously co-hosted ABC's daytime talk show The View (from 1997 to 2006). She also hosted Intimate Portrait, a series on Lifetime Television.

Life Facts:  Vieira first gained national recognition as a CBS reporter based in their Chicago bureau from 1982 to 1984. She later became a correspondent for nationwide news-magazine shows including West 57th (1985–89) and 60 Minutes (1989–91). Her final assignment at CBS was as co-anchor of the CBS Morning News (1992–93). She moved to ABC initially as a correspondent for the news-magazine show Turning Point (1993–97). Following the cancellation of Turning Point, Vieira realized:

Vieira married Emmy-award winning CBS News journalist Richard M. Cohen on June 14, 1986. They reside with their three children in Westchester County, New York. Cohen has had multiple sclerosis since he was 25 years old, and has had two bouts of colon cancer, one in 1999 and one a year later. She shares a December 30 birthday with fellow NBC personality Matt Lauer.

Career Facts:  Vieira first gained national recognition as a CBS reporter based in their Chicago bureau from 1982 to 1984. She later became a correspondent for nationwide news-magazine shows including West 57th (1985–89) and 60 Minutes (1989–91). Her final assignment at CBS was as co-anchor of the CBS Morning News (1992–93). She moved to ABC initially as a correspondent for the news-magazine show Turning Point (1993–97). Following the cancellation of Turning Point, Vieira realized:

*Vieira "hosts" a spoof of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, called Who Wants to Be King of the Jungle? on the second disc of the Special Edition DVD of The Lion King 1 1/2. Timon the Meerkat serves as the contestant; Pumbaa as an audience member and the "Phone an Animal" lifeline.

*Vieira is a former spokesperson for Bayer, serving as an on-air personality in their commercials.

*In 2000, she hosted the Academy Awards preshow for ABC

*Vieira had a brief stint in the Broadway show Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002, appearing in various scenes.

*Vieira had a cameo as the host of a proposed game show in the 2004 version of The Stepford Wives.

*Vieira also hosts a series of featurettes that are included on the first season DVDs of the ABC television show Desperate Housewives. Vieira interviews cast members and the show's creators in California. Vieira was required to sign a secrecy agreement in order to allow her access to script secrets.

*Vieira made her first guest appearance on The View since leaving the show on Monday, Oct. 8th, 2007.

*Vieira had a guest appearance in the NBC sitcom 30 Rock in the episode "Greenzo" in 2007.

*Vieira made a cameo role as a news reporter in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.

Vieira joined 60 Minutes in 1989 following the birth of her first child. Don Hewitt, executive producer of 60 Minutes, allowed her to work part-time for two seasons so she could care for her child. After that, she would work full-time. But after two years, she became pregnant again and asked to continue the part-time arrangement. Hewitt declined her request, deciding instead to hire someone who would work full-time. Her departure from the show garnered headlines, as a national debate started to take place about whether women could balance both family and career. She turned down opportunities to co-host The Early Show on CBS, and ABC's Good Morning America when her children were young.

Vieira discusses her family and career decisions in the book Divided Lives: The Public and Private Struggles of Three American Women by Elsa Walsh.