“Being in front of the camera - first of all, when I wanted to get into television, it was as a producer. I never had an idea that I would do anything in front of the camera, and that kind of happened by accident. But I wanted to be a producer or give me a job with the Yankees or play for the Knicks. I was a sports nut when I was a kid.”

American former television news personality

Matt Lauer is an American former television news personality best known for his long career at NBC News. He was born in 1957 and became widely known through Today, where he worked first as news anchor and later as co-anchor. Before his national career, Lauer worked in local news in New York City at WNBC. At NBC he also contributed frequently to Dateline NBC and helped host the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade each year, along with opening ceremonies for several Olympic Games.