Jim Avila Passes Away: Celebrated Correspondent for ABC and NBC News Dies at Age 70 Following Extended Illness
ABC and NBC News mourn the loss of award-winning correspondent Jim Avila, who passed away at 70 after a long illness. Learn more about his impressive
SAN ANTONIO – The journalism sector is grieving the passing of Jim Avila, a widely esteemed correspondent whose lengthy tenure at ABC News and NBC News played a pivotal role in the evolution of modern broadcast journalism. His family confirmed that Avila passed away at the age of 70 following a long illness.
Recognized for his keen investigative skills and commanding presence on television, Avila held the position of Senior National Correspondent for ABC News, where he reported on significant political and national issues. He also served as a White House correspondent during the Obama era and reported on several key stories, including the groundbreaking restoration of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba, an achievement that earned him the Merriman Smith Memorial Award from the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Prior to his time at ABC, Avila was affiliated with NBC News, where he built a reputation for thorough and accountability-driven journalism. Throughout his professional journey, he was honored with two National Emmy Awards, five Edward R. Murrow Awards, and various other accolades from the industry. In 2019, he was honored with a place in the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame, a recognition that his family reports he valued immensely.
His sibling, Jaie Avila, an investigative journalist at KABB in San Antonio, expressed heartfelt sentiments regarding Jim’s impact on him both in his career and personal life. “He motivated me to pursue a career in news,” he mentioned. In 2018, Jaie also provided a kidney to Jim, granting him “a tremendous blessing”—more time to see a child’s wedding and the arrivals of two grandchildren.
Avila departed from ABC News in 2021 but made a comeback to journalism in 2023 as a senior investigative reporter for KGTV in San Diego, showcasing his unwavering enthusiasm for storytelling even in his later years.
As friends and audiences reminisce about his contributions, Jim Avila is honored not just as a pioneering journalist, but also as a committed father to his children—Jamie, Jenny, and Evan—whose lives, he frequently stated, were his most significant achievement.
