Leon Harris Biography
Leon Harris is an American Emmy Award-winning (now former) News Anchor and Reporter known for recently worked for WRC-TV NBC4 in Washington D.C. as a 4 PM and 5 PM news co-anchor. He joined the station in April 2017 and he left on April 8, 2025.
Leon Harris Age
Harris is 64 years old as of 2025. He was born on April 20, 1961, in Akron, Ohio, United States, and therefore he celebrates his birthday on the 20th of April every year.
Leon Harris Height / Measurements
Harris is of average body stature and stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 8 inches.
Leon Harris Wife / Children
Harris is a married man and the name of his spouse is Dawn Lomax. She is a nurse at a local hospital and as a couple, they were blessed with 2 (now grown-ups) kids: Lauren (daughter) and Darren (son). Harris and Dawn met in college and they reside in Avenel, Potomac, Maryland, Lauren resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and Darren resides in Seattle, Washington. Lauren is an is an early childhood educator and she went to Temple University, whereas Darren went to Bucknell University.
Leon Harris Family / Relatives
Harris was born to Lorrene Harris (mother) and Leon Sr. (father). He was brought up with his 4 siblings: Kimberly (sister), James (son), Jerry (son), and Marcus (son). All of his brothers reside in Akron, Ohio, whereas his sister reside in Houston, Texas.
Leon Harris Education
Harris is a 1979 graduate of Buchtel High School. While there, he won a National Merit Scholarship to join Ohio University. Harris majored in Communications at the university and he graduated cum laude – he graduated in the year 1983. In the year 1999, Ohio University awarded him an honorary Doctorate.
Leon Harris Career
Harris is known for recently worked at WRC-TV NBC4 as a news co-anchor of “News at 4” alongside alongside Eun Yang, from Monday through Friday. He also reports for other other newscasts, like “News 4 at 11” and “News 4 at 5”, throughout the schedule, on weekdays. Harris became part of the NBC4 team after spending 14 years at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., and 21 years at CNN in Atlanta, Georgia.
Harris began his journalism career at CNN in Atlanta, GA as an unpaid intern in the early 1980s – this was while he was finishing college. After college, he worked his way up to assistant director of the satellite department from a video journalist. In that role, he helped manage satellite coverage for major events like the Persian Gulf War and presidential summits and trips.
In the summer of the year 1991, Harris auditioned for a news anchor role and soon after landed a full-time position. During his time at CNN, he won multiple Emmys for his reporting on major events like the 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the presidential election of the year 2000. As the network changed and new anchors replaced longtime colleagues, Harris says that he began to feel out of place. His final role at CNN was co-anchoring “CNN Live Today” with Daryn Kagan.
In July 2003, Harris joined WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C. – he started as the news anchor for the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. news. He began on October 28, 2003 and won a local Emmy for Best Anchor in the year 2006. His time at the station ended in October 2016 after WJLA chose not to renew his contract.
Leon Harris Leaving NBC4
In December 2024, “NBC4 Washington” made a report that Harris was taking medical leave after he appeared unwell during a recent newscast. The station shared that he would step away to focus on his health – this followed concerns raised after the November 28 broadcast where he had trouble speaking.
On April 8, 2025, “NBC4 Washington” made an announcement that Harris would be leaving the station. Harris said he took time off to focus on his family and health – after over 4 decades in the industry he decided it was time to step away. Harris thanked NBC4 for the past 8 years and expressed gratitude to his colleagues and viewers – he called it an honor to be part of their lives.
Leon Harris Salary
Harris receives an annual income ranging between $30,000 and $90,000.
Leon Harris Net Worth
Through Harris’s career as a News Anchor and Reporter, he has been able to accumulate a net worth that ranges between $1 Million and $ 5 Million.
Leon Harris DUI | Arrest
Harris was charged with DUI (driving under the influence) in the year 2013, in Montgomery County, MD. He pleaded guilty and was given probation before judgment – he spent 6 months on probation until September 2014. Harris was arrested again for the same issue on January 29, 2022, after a crash in the same county. Dring the investigation, he went off the air for more than 1 month, and he came back in mid-March. In June 2022, Harris was sentenced to 12 months in jail – but he only had to serve 10 days. He was also given 3 years of supervised probation – and he was required to use an interlock device in his car.
Leon Harris Illness
In the year 2013, Harris was featured in a story about surviving 2 life-threatening battles with necrotizing pancreatitis. However, full details about his experience are not widely available online.
Leon Harris WRC-TV NBC4
Harris worked with WRC-TV NBC4 where he served alongside his fellow anchors, reporters, and meteorologists such as;
- Chuck Bell
- Amelia Draper
- JP Finlay
- Molette Green
- Jim Handly
- Doug Kammerer
- Melissa Mollet
- Jummy Olabanji
- Tony Perkins
- Adam Tuss
- Shawn Yancy
- Eun Yang
Leon Harris Twitter (X)
Harris only has an X account, were he is active. He has about 6.5K followers on his Twitter account.