Meredith Vieira’s husband Richard Cohen, who lived for five decades with multiple sclerosis, dies at 76

Former “Today” anchor Meredith Vieira’s husband, Richard Cohen, died on Christmas Eve, the show’s current hosts said Tuesday. He was 76.

Cohen, an Emmy Award-winning journalist who built his career as a producer at both CBS News and CNN, had lived for more than 50 years prior to his death with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. He and Vieira were married for 38 years and share three children: Benjamin Cohen, 36, Gabriel Cohen, 34, and Lily Cohen, 32.

“Today” co-anchors Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie announced Cohen’s death during Tuesday morning’s episode of the NBC series. Kotb said Cohen was “surrounded by his family and love” when he died.

“Meredith did say that all of the kids came around Thanksgiving because they were concerned they were going to lose him early,” Kotb said. “But instead, they got a month, a glorious month, she said, with their dad.”

Guthrie said Vieira “was in really good spirits,” adding that the family recently welcomed a new grandchild.

The hosts shared the news of Cohen’s death during a segment that paid tribute to his legacy as a journalist, author and advocate for people living with chronic illnesses. Vieira’s husband was vocal about his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, including in one interview with his wife on “Today” in 2018, which appeared in the segment. 

“I was diagnosed when I was 25 years old and essentially told there is no hope,” said Cohen in that 2018 interview. “Diagnosed and adios. Nothing much we can do.”

Sharing his health journey and speaking up for others became intertwined with Cohen’s work, as his illness was a focal point of his 2004 autobiography, “Blindsided: Lifting a Life Above Illness: A Reluctant Memoir,” as well as his later writing. Cohen also survived two bouts of cancer.

Cohen was celebrated on “Today” for his sense of humor and remembered as someone who “lived life to the fullest.” 

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis, often abbreviated M.S., is a chronic autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks itself. It targets the central nervous system and can affect the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, according to the the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Symptoms of the illness can vary in type and severity, but, as M.S. disrupts communication between the brain and body, it can cause problems like fatigue, memory loss, mood changes, mobility issues and impaired vision. Cohen was legally blind.

What causes M.S. is unknown, and why the disease manifests in some people and not others isn’t clear. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s thought that genetics and environmental factors may increase an individual’s risk of developing the illness.

It is incurable, but there are treatments. The disease is rarely fatal, and most people diagnosed with it have a normal life expectancy, according to the Cleveland Clinic.