Biography for
Meredith Vieira More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

30 December 1953, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Birth Name

Meredith Louise Vieira

Nickname

Ditz
Ditzy
MV

Height

5' 3" (1.60 m)

Spouse

Richard M. Cohen

(14 June 1986 - present) 3 children

Trivia

Is of Portuguese heritage.

Husband Richard M. Cohen teaches journalism at Columbia University.

Has 3 older brothers named Edwin, Steve and Jeff.

Has three children with Richard M. Cohen : Benjamin Edwin (b. 1989), Gabriel Anthony (b. 1991) and Lily Max (b. 1993).

She has a fear of bridges.

Graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University with a degree in English (1975).

Scored 1330 on the SAT as a high school junior, and scored 1300 as a senior.

She is allergic to metal, and, therefore, doesn't wear her wedding ring.

Was once approached to pose in Playboy, she declined.

Lives in NY City suburb of Westchester County in a 2-story house built in 1929.

Husband, Richard M. Cohen, considered free of colon cancer after surgery in March, 2000. Has battled health problems over many years and is legally blind as a result of multiple sclerosis, which he contracted in his 20s.

Announced on-air during "The View" (1997) show in May 2002 that she's decided to accept ABC's offer to host the syndicated "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (2002) weekly series, beginning in the fall, while she continues to co-host "The View" (1997) for the next five years. Reportedly, her salary may jump from $500,000 a year to $5 million.

Has stated on "The View" (1997) that because she wears pantyhose, she doesn't wear underwear. She thinks it would be redundant to wear both.

Hosted a special featurette of "Desperate Housewives" (2004) that will be featured on the series' Season 1 DVD box set, to be released in August, 2005.

In 2005, she became the second female to win a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host as host of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (2002). The first was Betty White in 1983 for "Just Men!" (1983).

Older brother Edwin (Ed) Vieira, Jr. is a political activist that resides in Virginia.

When she was at CBS at the same time as Paula Zahn, they each had a husband named "Richard Cohen".

Announced that she will be the new co-host on "Today" (1952) [April 6, 2006].

Has been chosen by NBC to replace Katie Couric as the female anchor of "Today" (1952).

Parents names were Edwin Vieira, MD (b. New Bedford, Massachusetts, 15 May 1904, died Feb 1987), and Mary Elsie Rosa Vieira (daughter of ... Rosa and ... Silveria), both of Portuguese Azorian ancestry. Her paternal grandfather Antonio (Antone) C. Vieira (b. Faial, Azores, ca 1869) is said to have been a Catholic priest in Fall River, Massachusetts, who eloped with Maria Louise (L.) Costa (also b. Faial, Azores, ca 1879), one of his parishioners. They later married in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1896, had two children, Othilia P. (ca 1902) and Edwin (ca 1905), and he became a state lecturer at the Portuguese community of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Personal Quotes

"Honestly, I'm living my fantasy. It's being with my family, preferably on a snowy afternoon with a fire going, cuddled up in blankets, playing a game. My family fulfills me." As quoted in the Dec 21, 2004 Woman's World

Where Are They Now

(May 2006) Has announced that her last day on "The View" (1997) will be June 9. She will take the summer off and begin at "Today" (1952) in September.

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