Legendary L.A. Personality Charlie Tuna Dies at 71
| RADIO ONLINE | Monday, February 29, 2016 |
|
 Charlie Tuna |
Sad to report that veteran radio personality Charlie Tuna has died at age 71. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 19. Tuna worked as morning drive personality for more stations and formats than anyone in Los Angeles radio history, including CHR, AC, Hot AC, Oldies, Talk, Sports/Talk and Country formats.
In 1990, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Tuna by presenting him with a Star on the Walk of Fame. In 1999, he was inducted into his home state Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. In 1997, Los Angeles Radio People readers voted Tuna one of the Top 10 L.A. Radio Personalities of All Time. In 2007 and again in 2013, Charlie was elected by his LARadio.com broadcast peers as one of the Top 10 Los Angeles Radio Personalities.
Among his Los Angeles. Radio credits:
Was part of the legendary KHJ Boss Jock line-up; starting KROQ radio; starting KIIS and serving as both Program Director and Morning Man for KIIS AM & FM. Tuna was heard around the world daily on the Armed Forces Radio Network for a 25 year 6000 show run from 1971 to 1996, as well as on numerous nationally syndicated radio shows, since the early 1970s. He can be heard across the U.S., Canada and internationally on his syndicated 5 hour daily and weekend shows, plus a daily Hollywood Minute entertainment feature. Tuna was the announcer for the television game show Scrabble which ran for seven years on NBC, and a dozen other TV shows ranging from the Mike Douglas Show to America's Top 10 with Casey Kasem. He hosted Cinema, Cinema, Cinema for 30 years, an internationally syndicated TV show featuring the top movies in the US each week, with clips from the films. He also hosted the international TV show Inside Hollywood for three years. Appearances in two movies, hundreds of TV and radio commercials, VH1's use of Charlie's Celebrity Interview Archives, dozens of radio station voice imaging clients, narration of the U.S. Air Force's 50th Anniversary CD, and serving as a musical network TV consultant round out the media side of Charlie Tuna. Charlie also raised nearly 2.5 million dollars for Children' s Hospital in L.A. with his annual "Tunathon" in past years, hosted the red carpet and emceed the Revlon Run/Walk for 5 years, and emceed the annual 4th of July Warner Park in Woodland Hills celebration which attracts annual crowds of over 50,000 spectators. Charlie called Tarzana home in California and served as the city's Honorary Mayor since 1977.
Tuna's life was well lived, and he will be remembered always for the joy, laughter, and love of music he brought to many throughout the world with his presence on the radio. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. If you wish to reach out, you may do so on charlietuna.com. Memorial donations may be made to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
