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Leslie MoonvesPresident and CEO of CBS Corporation, actor
Date of Birth: 23.12.1948
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Acting Career
- Rise in Television
- Transformation of CBS
- Primetime Dominance
- Controversies and Legal Battles
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Born on December 23, 1948, in New York City, Leslie Moonves attended Bucknell University, graduating in 1971 with a degree in Spanish and theater.
Acting Career
Before pursuing a career in television, Moonves worked briefly as an actor. He appeared in several television roles, including "The Ken Cannon Show" and "The Six Million Dollar Man."
Rise in Television
Moonves joined 20th Century Fox as vice president of made-for-TV movies and miniseries. In 1985, he moved to Lorimar, where he became president within three years. In 1993, he was appointed president of Warner Bros. Television, greenlighting popular shows like "Friends" and "E.R."
Transformation of CBS
In 1995, Moonves joined CBS. As president and CEO from 1998, he led the network's strategic shift that resulted in significant success and increased viewership. Under his guidance, CBS launched critically acclaimed series such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Survivor."
Primetime Dominance
By the fourth quarter of 2005, six of CBS's ten series were among the top-rated primetime programs, including "CSI," "Without a Trace," and "NCIS." Moonves's bold decisions and programming vision contributed to the network's resurgence.
Controversies and Legal Battles
Moonves's tenure at CBS was marked by both successes and controversies. He was responsible for canceling "Star Trek: Enterprise" in 2005, ending the long-running franchise. In 2006, CBS filed a $500 million lawsuit against Howard Stern after the radio host allegedly breached their contract. Stern later alleged that Moonves and CBS had tried to intimidate him and his agent. The case was eventually settled out of court.
Personal Life
Moonves divorced after 26 years of marriage and began dating reporter and actress Julie Chen in 2000. They married in 2004, and in 2009, they welcomed their son, Charlie.
