L-A TV Weather Forecaster Fritz Coleman Retiring

Fritz Coleman

Fritz Coleman, LA's weatherman for nearly four decades, will retire next week, NBC4 announced Wednesday.

Generations of Angelenos grew up watching Coleman, a four-time Emmy winner who spent 39 years on the air. His last day will be June 26. Throughout his time with NBC, Coleman has been part of one of the nation's longest-running news anchor teams along with co- anchors Colleen Williams and Chuck Henry and sports anchor Fred Roggin.

Patch.com reports Coleman said he plans to spend more time with his family and dedicate more time to his comedy, according to a statement released by the station.

"This career has been a gift. To work in the greatest news operation in Southern California has been the greatest experience of my life," Coleman said. "I have also had the opportunity of raising my children, while working with a wonderful team. I have made lifelong friends at NBC4 and in the community it serves. I'm so very thankful."

Coleman has won four Los Angeles-area Emmy Awards for his work on NBC4 comedy specials and series, with his first production, "It's Me! Dad!," winning the 1997 Artistic Directors Award. He has also worked as a stand-up comic at clubs throughout California, including The Improv in Hollywood and The Ice House in Pasadena, and appeared on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson."

After 39 years of delivering forecasts on the NBC4 News to viewers across Southern California, our legendary weatherman, Fritz Coleman, is retiring. https://t.co/jAEKTRHPKm pic.twitter.com/5ibwgLvScx

— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) June 17, 2020

Coleman devotes much of his free time to supporting charity events benefiting local nonprofit organizations and has led several NBC4 community town hall meetings addressing the drought crisis.

Coleman, a Navy veteran, started off his broadcasting career as a disc jockey and radio talk show host at various stations throughout the country and moved to Los Angeles in 1980 from Buffalo, New York, where he worked as a radio personality.

"Television viewers have faithfully welcomed Fritz into their homes for 39 years, and during this entire time, he has been an esteemed employee, a beloved friend and an outstanding corporate citizen," said Steve Carlston, NBC4's president and general manager. "His retirement is our loss, but a well- deserved respite for him."