In an era where celebrity marriages often flicker out under the relentless spotlight, Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen stood as a rare testament to enduring love and resilience. This week, that love story reached its bittersweet final chapter as Cohen, a respected journalist and author, passed away at 76 after a decades-long battle with multiple sclerosis.
Announced on Today by Vieira’s former colleagues, the news struck a chord not just with morning show audiences but with anyone who’s followed Vieira and Cohen’s journey over the years. The couple’s bond wasn’t built on fleeting glamour or shallow vows—it was forged through honesty, humor, and an unshakable partnership in the face of relentless challenges.
Cohen was diagnosed with MS at just 25, a reality he never hid from Vieira, even from their very first date. As he once recounted, “I sort of learned the hard way to get it on the table… She didn’t blink.” And she never did. Their marriage, which began in 1986, weathered the physical toll of MS, the loss of Cohen’s eyesight, and the unyielding progression of a disease that so often steals independence and dignity. But Cohen refused to be defined by it.
Over the years, he built a career as a journalist, working for CNN, CBS, and The New York Times. His writing wasn’t just reportage—it was raw, personal storytelling. He shared the realities of living with MS, not as a victim but as someone who refused to let the disease steal his voice. Even as his body betrayed him, his words remained sharp, his wit intact, and his spirit unbroken.
Their three children—Ben, Gabe, and Lily—are living legacies of that love. They were by their father’s side in his final days, a month-long vigil that brought them together in what Hoda Kotb described as a “glorious month with their dad.” It’s a reminder that sometimes, even in loss, there’s a gift—a final chapter written with presence, connection, and love.
Vieira, known for her warmth and candor on shows like Today, The View, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, has always been open about the challenges of balancing her high-profile career with caring for a husband whose health was often unpredictable. But she did it with grace, humor, and a relentless focus on family.
Savannah Guthrie’s reflection captured it well: “She was such a beautiful and devoted wife to Richard, and he adored Meredith.” That mutual adoration was palpable, whether in candid interviews or rare public appearances together. They were, as Guthrie said, “the most fun and entertaining, irreverent, cool couple you could hang out with.”
Cohen himself summed up his life with characteristic humility and perspective in 2019: “I look at our three kids, I look at our relationship, I’ve written four books… what do I have to complain about?” In a world where so many chase fleeting fame or shallow success, Cohen’s words cut through with rare clarity.
For Vieira, this chapter closes with heartbreak, but also with the knowledge that she and Richard built a life worth celebrating—a life full of laughter, partnership, and an unwavering commitment to each other.
