Trivia

Worked as an intern during the administration of U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Spent several years as a volunteer firefighter in New Jersey

With the retirements of Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather and the death of Peter Jennings, Williams is, as of this writing, the longest-serving and highest-prated news anchor on television.

A native of both New York and New Jersey

Since taking over as anchor and managing editor of "NBC Nightly News" in 2004, Brian is seen by more U.S. TV viewers, on a daily basis, than any other personality.

Named "Father of the Year" by the National Fathers' Day Committee in 1996

Has two children, one of whom is actress Allison Williams.

At the 2007 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner, Williams was pulled up on stage by Improv comedians Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood and made sound effects as the two comedians performed a skit.

He is a big New York Giants fan. On Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993), Williams announced he "bleeds Giants blue".

Lives in Connecticut

Is an occasional guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992), Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993), and Late Show with David Letterman (1993).

Known to have been a big fan of NASCAR racer Dale Earnhardt, even visiting Earnhardt a few times (Williams and his son Douglas were at Talladega Super speedway in October 1999 for a race when Williams interviewed Earnhardt for his show).

Took over for Tom Brokaw on the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (1970) in November 2004 after the elections, having served as Brokaw's understudy for 8 years.

Received an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of America in May 2004, although he never graduated from there.

Received honorary doctorate from Elmira College in May 1998

Has won several Emmys

Appeared on Saturday Night Live (1975) September 30, 2006, ready to co- anchor the "Weekend Update" segment with Amy Poehler, but is told by Poehler that Seth Meyers will be co-anchoring instead.

Shares his name with long-time Canadian sportscaster Brian Williams. In a segment taped while they were both in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics, the Canadian Williams said they had exchanged emails in the past but never met in person until then. They visited each other's sets, recorded mock introductions ("Welcome back to our coverage, CTV Prime Time with Brian Williams. I'm Brian Williams, sitting in for Brian Williams") and gave each other a gift. NBC's Williams gave Canada's Williams a jacket emblazoned with his show's logo - and his "own" name.

Had knee replacement surgery in August 2013, announced publicly on several occasions, and spoke about the surgery on several talk shows, including his October 3, 2013 appearance on Late Show with David Letterman (1993) on rival CBS network.

Has appeared on The Daily Show (1996) as a celebrity guest and interviewed by Jon Stewart, who is actually a longtime friend. A gag involving his head being projected on a screen behind Stewart has been used twice since the show moved to a new set on April 9, 2007; during one of these appearances the head actually addressed and made fun of Stewart as part of the joke.

He has Irish, Swedish, and German ancestry.

In the sitcom 30 Rock (2006) episode, The Head and the Hair (2007), Jack and Kenneth are sent to clean up Williams' dressing room while he is apparently at the liquor store - in the room, they find underwear filled with bird seed, and graffiti on the wall reading "Katie Couric Sucks".

Worked as Chief White House Correspondent (1994-1995).

Attended Mater Dei High School in New Monmouth (Middletown), New Jersey.

He is nominated in the 2013 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the General Category.

He was inducted into the 2014 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Arts and Letters Category.

Replaced Maury Povich as host of locally produced Washington, DC, talk show "Panorama" in 1985.