Born Huell Burnley Howser on the 18th October 1945 in Gallatin, Tennessee USA, he was a television personality, best known to the world for being the host of the highly popular travel program “California`s Gold” (1991-2012), which focused on exploring the nature, culture and history of the state of California. His career was active from the 1980s until 2012, when he decided to retire. He passed away in January 2013.
Have you ever wondered how rich Huell Howser was, at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it was estimated that Huell Howser`s net worth was as high as $1.5 million, an amount he earned through his successful career in the entertainment industry.
Huell Howser Net Worth $1.5 Million
Huell was the son of Harold Chaberlan and Jewell Havens Howser. Little is known in the media about his early life and education until college, when he enrolled at the University of Tennessee, from which he graduated with a BA degree in history.
After college, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and after discharge he worked as a staff of U.S Senator Howard Baker. However, in the early 1980s he switched his focus to television, and joined station WSMV-TV in Nashville, Tennessee, mainly producing shows on human interest stories, including “Happy Features” and “The Happy World Of Huell Howser”. His net worth was already well established.
He then moved to New York, and was the host of the WCBS TV`s “Real Life”, but then moved to Los Angeles, and served as a reporter for KCBS-TV. He progressed further when he became the weekend host of the show “Entertainment Tonight” in 1982, and stayed in position until he joined KCET in 1985, and served as producer of Videolog.
As early as 1990s, Huell came to the idea of creating “California`s Gold”, and from 1991 until 2012, he wrote 96 episode of the program, and produced and hosted 109 episodes. Soon the show became popular, which only increased Huell`s net worth. Apart from “California`s Gold”, he also produced several spin-off shows, such as “California`s Golden Coast” (2003-2004), “California`s Golden Parks” (2004-2009), “California`s Golden Fairs” (2010-2011), and ‘Road Trip With Huell Howser” (2002-2011), among others, which also added to his net worth. Howser became one of the most popular television hosts, not only in the USA, as his fame followed him wherever his feet touched the ground.
Apart from working as a host, Howser also released a number of books, and also his articles have been published in Westways magazine, which also increased his net worth.
Thanks to his contributions, posthumously Howser received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars. Regarding his personal life, Huell lived at El Royale apartments in Los Angeles, which are a big part of California history, designed by architect William Douglas Lee. He never married and had no children; there were rumors that Huell was gay, but he never said anything about any relationships in the media.
In 2003 he bought the Volcano House, located outside Barstow on a volcanic cinder cone, which he later donated to Chapman University. Also he donated videotapes of his show, and a large collection of books and arts to the university, and in the near future, Huell Howser Archive will be opened for visitors. For now, it can be accessed through the internet site of the university.
Howser died at age 67 on the 7th January 2013 in Palm Springs, California, from prostate cancer; several years back he had been diagnosed with the incurable disease, and he was forced to retire as the illness progressed. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea off the coast of Los Angeles County.
We operate on the premise that TV isn't brain surgery. People's stories are what it's all about. If you have a good story, it doesn't have to be overproduced. I want our stories to reveal the wonders of the human spirit and the richness of life in California, including its history, people, culture and natural wonders.
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In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. - about television
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Fact
1
Spending time between his homes in Palm Springs and San Bernardino, California, while still continuing his trademark California documentaries and television specials. [February 2004]
2
His first name was a combination of the first names of his parents, Harold and Jewell Howser. Huell explains this in the opening of California's Gold: Smartsville (2009).
3
Since the incarnation of California's Gold (1991) and Visiting... with Huell Howser (1993), he has expanded his documentaries with new series such as "California's Green", "California's Golden Coast", "California's Golden Parks", "Road Trip... With Huell Howser", "California Missions" and specials highlighting the resort city of Palm Springs, California.
4
Worked for both the New York and Los Angeles affiliates of the CBS network as a television show host and field reporter. This was before ultimately joining his current network, PBS, at their Los Angeles affiliate of KCET, since the late 1980s.
5
Was the first to be given full access to film on the grounds and interiors of the Rancho Mirage, California home of Frank Sinatra, on his show California's Gold (1991). Out of many homes Sinatra owned, this was the most favored and considered intimate by the late entertainer, as revealed by members of his estate on the show.
6
Was a sought-out candidate for Palm Springs Mayor, during 2002, by a local group of citizens. Howser politely showed no interest.
7
A native of Tennessee, he graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in history and later served in the Marines. After working as an aide to Howard H. Baker Jr., then a Republican U.S. senator from Tennessee, he was hired as a reporter by WSM-TV, the NBC affiliate in Nashville.
8
The namesake of a Hawaiian honey ham & pineapple cheeseburger at Peggy Sue's 50s Diner (Yermo and Victorville, California)
9
Filed a taxpayer suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court to prevent the Long Beach Naval Station, which featured buildings by African-American architect Paul Williams, from being demolished and made into a cargo container facility for the Chinese government-owned shipping company COSCO, maintaing that such a use would be a "waste" of public assets. The lawsuit was thrown out and demolition began in October 1998. Congress has sinced passed a law preventing use of property by entities with ties to the People's Republic of China. (January 1997)
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
California's Gold
1991-2016
TV Series documentary 177 episodes
Road Trip with Huell Howser
2001-2011
TV Series documentary 31 episodes
Visiting... with Huell Howser
1993-2011
TV Series documentary 74 episodes
California's Golden Fairs
2010-2011
TV Series documentary 11 episodes
California's Golden Parks
2002-2009
TV Series documentary 21 episodes
California's Green
2004-2007
TV Series documentary 2 episodes
California's Golden Coast
2003-2004
TV Series documentary 9 episodes
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
California's Gold
1991-2016
TV Series documentary producer - 177 episodes
Road Trip with Huell Howser
2001-2011
TV Series documentary producer - 31 episodes
Visiting... with Huell Howser
1993-2011
TV Series documentary producer - 74 episodes
California's Golden Fairs
2010-2011
TV Series documentary producer - 11 episodes
California's Golden Parks
2002-2009
TV Series documentary producer - 21 episodes
California's Green
2004-2007
TV Series documentary producer - 2 episodes
California's Golden Coast
2003-2004
TV Series documentary producer - 9 episodes
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Winnie the Pooh
2011
Backson (voice)
Thoughts of Suicide on an Otherwise Lovely Day
2010
Short
Howser Huell
Weeds
2008
TV Series
Huell Howser
Beverly Hills, 90210
1997
TV Series
Reed Harvey
Camera Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Road Trip with Huell Howser
2004
TV Series documentary camcorder - 1 episode
California's Gold
1996
TV Series documentary camera - 1 episode
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
California's Gold
2010
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Simpsons
2013
TV Series in memory of - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
California's Gold
1991-2016
TV Series documentary
Himself - Host
A Golden State of Mind: The Storytelling Genius of Huell Howser
2014
Documentary
Road Trip with Huell Howser
2001-2011
TV Series documentary
Himself - Host
Visiting... with Huell Howser
1993-2011
TV Series documentary
Himself - Host
California's Golden Fairs
2010-2011
TV Series documentary
Himself - Host
Huell Howser Special Event
2011
TV Movie
Himself - Host
The Simpsons
2009
TV Series
Himself
California's Golden Parks
2002-2009
TV Series documentary
Himself - Host
California's Green
2004-2007
TV Series documentary
Himself - Host
California's Golden Coast
2003-2004
TV Series documentary
Himself - Host
In Smog and Thunder
2003
Himself
43rd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration
2002
TV Movie
Himself
Wedding Day
1981
TV Series documentary
Host
To Life
1979
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Who Killed the Electric Car?
2006
Documentary
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2011
Michael Landon Award
Young Artist Awards
California's Gold (1991)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2012
BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award
Behind the Voice Actors Awards
Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film
Winnie the Pooh (2011)
Known for movies
Visiting... with Huell Howser (1993-2011) as Writer