Former ABC News correspondent Jim Avila has died at the age of 69, his heartbroken colleagues have revealed.
He passed away after a ‘long illness’, anchor Diane Macedo announced Thursday morning. She did not disclose his ailment in the announcement.
He had undergone a kidney transplant in 2020. The organ was donated by his brother.
Avila was a Los Angeles-based senior national correspondent for the network and correspondent on 20/20.
His four-decades-long career saw him cover politics, justice, law and consumer investigations.
He covered the White House during President Barack Obama‘s second term and won an award for breaking the news that the US and Cuba had opened diplomatic relations.
ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic said in a statement: ‘We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, including his three children, Jamie, Jenny, and Evan, and we thank him for his many contributions and unwavering commitment to seeking out the truth.’
ABC News correspondent Jim Avila (pictured in September 2020) has died at the age of 69, his heartbroken colleagues have revealed
Avila (pictured outside Air Force One in February 2013) covered politics, justice, law and consumer investigations. He worked in the White House during President Barack Obama’s second term
Avila is pictured alongside his daughter Jenny. He shared the photo on X, writing: ‘My one and only daughter. Jenny. What a sweetheart’
Fans and former colleagues alike have taken to social media to pay tribute to the late journalist.
‘One of the greats in broadcast journalism has passed,’ tweeted KTLA anchor Frank Buckley.
He hailed Avila as ‘one of my close friends with whom I had too many nights out to count’ and ‘someone who cared deeply about journalism, his friends, his family.’
‘I will miss him,’ Buckley added.
ABC Supervising Producer & Reporter John Parkinson shared how Avila ‘demanded the best from his colleagues but always kept it fun.’
‘Our assignments took us to G20 in Antalya, Turkey to Martha’s Vineyard to Waikiki and many places in between. RIP, my friend,’ he wrote.
Karamehmedovic, in an internal email sent to staff cited by ABC News, said: ‘Jim was a gifted journalist and a generous colleague.’
One of Avila’s fans described him as a ‘staple in broadcast journalism’ and said his death as a ‘sad loss’ for everyone.
‘His contributions over the years were significant,’ the X user wrote, adding: ‘Honestly, this one hits a little harder because of his presence on «20/20» — he had such a calm, steady way of delivering tough stories.’
Another fan echoed: ‘I’m really sorry to hear of the death of former ABC News correspondent Jim Avila. He was a very fine reporter. We could use more like him right now.’
ABC News national correspondent Jim Avila (center left) is pictured outside a South Dakots courthouse with his family on opening day of the June 2017 jury trial in the defamation lawsuit brought by Beef Products, Inc. against ABC News for its reporting on its products
Avila is pictured with his rescue dog in February 2022. He owned the dog for at least 10 years
Avila leaves behind three children: his sons Jamie and Evan, and daughter Jenny. Evan (second left) is pictured alongside Olivia Smith, (left) Ronnie Polidoro (second right) and Xano O’Neill (right) at the 37th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards in NYC in 2016
Jim Avila is pictured alongside his friend, KTLA anchor Frank Buckley. Buckley, in a tribute shared Thursday, described Avila as ‘someone who cared deeply about journalism, his friends, his family’
Avila started his career at San Francisco’s KCBS radio in 1973. He worked at multiple local TV stations including LA’s KNBC, WBBM in Chicago and KPIX in San Francisco.
He also served as a national correspondent at the NBC Nightly News before joining the ABC News team.
Avila left the network in 2021, following his transplant. He started working at ABC’s San Diego affiliate KGTV as a senior investigative reporter in December 2023.
When asked why he rejoined the workforce, Avila told the Times of San Diego that ‘retirement was boring.’
‘I’ve been to every state in the country and every continent except Antarctica. I’ve covered the White House, wars, mass shootings. I still want to make an impact in news and San Diego is a good place to do it,’ he said in the January 2024 interview.
Throughout his career, Avila covered ‘every major trial from Jerry Sandusky and Penn State to Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson and countless others,’ ABC reported.
And even after he started facing health challenges, Avila continued to contribute to the journalism industry through opinion writing and local reporting.
He shared his ‘experience and deep curiosity to tell the stories that mattered most to his community and viewers,’ Karamehmedovic’s email reportedly said.
Fans and former colleagues alike have taken to social media to pay tribute to Avila
Avila earned numerous awards, including two National Emmy Awards and five Edward R. Murrow Awards.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists named his reporter of the year in 1999. The organization also made named him a 2019 Hall of Fame honoree.
His coverage of the Peru drug wars and death of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington earned him awards from the Headline Club of Chicago.
Additionally, the club named him Best Reporter of 1989.
