Willie Geist is not suffering from any illness and continues to regularly host his Sunday Today program on MSNBC. Fans can also catch him during weekdays on Morning Joe, where he is one of the co-anchors.
There have been rumors about Willie Geist’s health, but they are misplaced. Willie Geist is not suffering from any serious illness. Rather, it is his father, Bill Geist, who has Parkinson’s disease. The senior Geist, real name – William Geist, is also a trailblazing journalist and writer but has now retired. The similarities between him and his son are what have led to the rumors about his son’s health, but all that is cleared up below.
What Happened To Willie Geist?
Nothing happened to Willie Geist, and he continues to host his flagship program known as Sunday Today with Willie Geist on MSNBC. Any rumors about Willie Geist may have to do with the fact that his father is suffering from Parkinson’s disease. However, Willie Geist is not suffering from any serious health condition. He supports his dad and has also lent his voice to raise awareness about the disease.
For instance, Willie Geist is a board member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which raises awareness for Parkinson’s disease as well as raises funds for research. He has voiced some PSAs for the organization. He has also raised money for them.
In November 2020, Willie Geist ran in the New York Half Marathon and was able to raise $40,000 for the organization. In November 2021, he took part in the full marathon and finished the race in under 4 hours. He was able to raise half a million dollars from small donations for the organization.
Does Willie Geist Have Parkinson’s?
Willie Geist does not have Parkinson’s disease. The person who has Parkinson’s is his beloved father, Bill Geist. Just like his son, Bill is also an accomplished journalist and writer but has now retired, at least from journalism.
A Vietnam War vet, the senior Geist wrote columns for the Chicago Tribune in the 70s and the New York Times (his column titled About New York was quite popular) in the 80s. He later transitioned to broadcasting and spent about three decades with CBS. His career saw him win multiple accolades, including three Emmy awards.
Willie Geist’s father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1992 at the age of 47. A year before that, he had noticed that something was off with his writing while signing copies of his books for fans at an event. He later noticed a tremor in his hands, consulted doctors, and was finally diagnosed.
Bill Geist was quite devastated with his diagnosis as he was still in the prime of his life. He didn’t want people to treat him differently and also didn’t want his kids to worry. He also feared that the diagnosis might affect his career, and so he and his wife decided to keep it a secret. They never told the kids or informed his bosses, and he silently embarked on treatments as well as therapies.
At some point, Bill Geist deduced that hiding his disease was now in the realm of denial, and so he decided to come clean. Bill informed his son Willie and his daughter Libby that he had Parkinson’s in 2002, a decade after his original diagnosis. By 2012, he revealed his diagnosis to his colleagues and members of the public on an episode of CBS Sunday Morning. His revelation triggered an outpouring of good wishes. Many also pointed out that his coming forward would give other people hope that they can go on to lead normal lives with their condition.
Willie Geist also commended his father for the courage to come out. The broadcaster has since revealed that he worries whether he has a genetic disposition to the disease but tries not to dwell too much on it.
Willie Geist might have undergone genetic testing for Parkinson’s, but this won’t solve anything as it is not conclusive. One may have the genes that predispose one to Parkinson’s and not have the disease. It is also possible for an individual without the genes to still get the disease. Given such a situation, Willie Geist may decide to rest easy and focus on leading a healthy life.
What Happened To Sunday Today With Willie Geist?
Sunday Today With Willie Geist still airs every Sunday on MSNBC, as well as local affiliates all throughout the United States, and Willie Geist is still the host. The show features news bulletins as well as coverage of pop culture and human interest stories. There are also in-depth interviews with newsmakers and celebrities.
In July 2023, Willie Geist and his crew celebrated airing the 300th episode of Sunday Today. It was a proud moment for the Vanderbilt alum, and he expressed his gratitude to the amazing team of talented bookers, producers, and editors who have created something unique, good, and compelling for the viewers. He also expressed his joy that their vision for the show had resonated with audiences.
Willie Geist recalled some of the star guests that he had on the show, including Shonda Rhimes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ryan Reynolds, Mila Kunis, Stanley Tucci, Melissa McCarthy, Matt Damon, Reba McEntire, and Brendan Fraser. He stated that he still had a long wish list of potential guests comprising the likes of Jay-Z, LeBron James, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift.
Where Is Willie Geist Now?
Willie Geist is presently in New York which he is where he lives with his family and where his TV shows are filmed. The award-winning broadcaster lives in a five-bedroom mansion located in South Salem, New York, with his wife, Christina Sharkey Geist, and their two children, Lucie and George.
His signature show, Sunday Today with Willie Geist, as well as Morning Joe (which he co-anchors), are also all filmed in New York. Sunday Today with Willie Geist is filmed at the NBC Studios located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York. The filming location for Morning Joe is also in the same area.
Willie Geist is on air nearly every day of the week, including Sundays, but he makes sure to create quality time for his family. After his show on Sundays, he and his family spend time hanging out at diners or attending games. Willie also makes sure not to miss recitals, performances, etc. His kids are now in their teens, and he can look back and not feel guilty for missing parts of their growth.
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