Larry Bryant

News anchors

By VARIETY STAFF

Larry Bryant, one of the first black news anchors in Washington, D.C., who went on to build a career in public relations, has died. He was 53.

Bryant, who had diabetes, died of a heart attack on Feb. 20 during a business trip to New York. He lived in the Canoga Park area of Los Angeles.

Washington, D.C. native attended American University, Southern Illinois University, where he studied journalism, and the University of Redlands, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration.

From 1970 to 1976, he worked for WTTG-TV as a reporter and news anchor and hosted a show called "Black News."

He later was director of media affairs for United Way of Greater Los Angeles. He also had been a U.S. Census information officer and had worked for several other media outlets, including United Press International.

In 1991 he became a communications executive for Wellpoint Health Networks, the corporate parent of Blue Cross of California.

Survivors include his wife, Emyna, two children and a sister.