KNBC weathercaster Fritz Coleman, one of Southern California鈥檚 most recognized 鈥� and most popular 鈥� television personalities, will share his wit and insight on May 11, as Woodbury鈥檚 2019 graduation speaker. Coleman will also receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service from Woodbury immediately following his address to the 300 member graduating class, for his dedication to civic and community engagement over the past three decades.
Coleman has been named 鈥淏est Weathercaster鈥� in nearly every major newspaper in Southern California, including the Orange County Register, the San Bernardino Sun and, on four occasions, the Los Angeles Daily News. From 2009 to 2011, Coleman also did the weekday weather for聽聽NBC affiliate,聽.
鈥淚t is a humbling honor for me to join the Woodbury Class of 2019 on their very special day, said Coleman. 鈥淚鈥檝e lived in the San Fernando Valley for 35 years and am very familiar with the caliber of their students and faculty. There is no greater personal triumph for me than to speak at a school that probably wouldn鈥檛 have admitted me!鈥�
鈥淪ince 1982, Angelenos have welcomed Fritz into their homes and we鈥檙e now delighted to welcome him to the university,鈥� said Woodbury President, Dr. David Steele-Figueredo. 鈥淗e brings a style that is both warm and informed. He鈥檚 trusted, credible and entertaining 鈥� a rare and valuable mix. Fritz is also the embodiment of civic engagement, having won a number of awards and honors for his dedication to community service. Woodbury鈥檚 Class of 2019 is privileged to have him as this year鈥檚 graduation speaker.鈥�
Coleman devotes much of his free time to charitable activities and frequently organizes evenings of entertainment for local service and civic organizations, as well as serving as master of ceremonies for dozens of Southern California community events. In 2004, he won two Humanitarian of the Year Awards 鈥� one from Shelter Partnership and the California Hospital Medical Center. That same year, he received the EMA Community Service Award for his involvement with KNBC’s聽4 Our Planet, a children’s program. The City of Los Angeles named Coleman a 鈥淭reasure of Los Angeles鈥� in 1999, and the United States House of Representatives gave him the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his fundraising efforts on behalf of the American Red Cross. 聽Coleman has also been honored by the Los Angeles Chapter of the Salvation Army for his long-time commitment to the organization.
Coleman moved to Los Angeles in 1980 from Buffalo, where he worked as an on-air radio personality. Prior to that, he was a disc jockey and radio talk show host at various stations around the country. From 1980 until he joined NBC4 in 1982, he worked as a stand-up comic at a number of clubs throughout Southern California, including The Improv and The Ice House. He has also made numerous appearances on the 鈥淭onight Show鈥� and other non-scripted and scripted television programs. 聽As a playwright, Coleman has created, produced and starred in three one-man shows.
Originally from Philadelphia, Coleman attended Salem College in West Virginia and Temple University in Philadelphia, where he studied radio, television and film. An avid runner, rollerblader and skier, he lives in the San Fernando Valley and has two sons and a daughter.