Lauren Sánchez


Lauren Wendy Sánchez is an Emmy Award-winning American news anchor, entertainment reporter, media personality, actress, producer, pilot and entrepreneur. Sánchez is a frequent guest host on The View, former co-host on KTTV Fox 11's Good Day LA and anchor on the Fox 11 Ten O'clock News, and anchor and special correspondent on Extra. Sánchez has also been a regular contributor on shows including Larry King Live, The Joy Behar Show and Showbiz Tonight.

Career

Sánchez began her career as a desk assistant at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. She also held positions as an anchor and reporter at KTVK-TV in Phoenix before joining the syndicated entertainment show Extra as a reporter. From there, Sánchez moved to Fox Sports Net, where she earned another Emmy nomination as anchor and correspondent for the sports magazine Going Deep and entertainment reporter for FSN's Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Sánchez returned to KCOP-TV in 1999 to anchor UPN 13 News, where she won an Emmy Award. Sánchez also landed the entertainment reporting gig for FOX 11's 10 p.m. news on KTTV in L.A. She was the runner-up in the nationwide hosting competition during season 2 of The View in February 2000. The position was ultimately given to Lisa Ling. In 2005, Sánchez became the original host of FOX's popular dancing competition So You Think You Can Dance. Sánchez left the show after one season to have her second child. In 2009, Sánchez returned to Extra as weekend anchor and special correspondent. Sánchez continues to occasionally work on Good Day LA, Extra and other TV shows.
Sánchez has been featured in People magazine's “50 Most Beautiful” issue and Us Weekly's “Hot Bodies” issue.
In 2016, she founded Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned aerial film and production company. Sánchez now focuses on film and television projects which allow her to use her skills as a licensed pilot of airplanes and helicopters.

Personal life

Sánchez has a son Nikko, born in 2001, from her relationship with former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez. In August 2005, Sánchez married Patrick Whitesell, a Hollywood agent and founding partner of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. She has a son and daughter with Whitesell: Evan, born 2006, and Ella, born in 2008.
In February 2019, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos published a blog post alleging that National Enquirer publisher American Media, Inc. had attempted blackmail and extortion in connection with Bezos' alleged affair with Sánchez.
In April 2019, Sánchez and Whitesell filed for divorce, which was finalized in October of that year.

Filmography

In addition to her reporting and hosting duties, Sánchez makes cameo appearances in films and television series, including in the following:

Film

YearTitle
RoleNotes
1999Fight ClubChannel 4 ReporterCredited as W. Lauren Sanchez
2003Hollywood HomicideChopper Newscaster
2004The Day After TomorrowInternational Newscaster
2004CellularNews Anchor No. 2
2005Fantastic FourKCOP / KTTV reporter
2005The Longest YardHerself
2006Akeelah and the BeeReporter
2006ZoomReporter
2007Fox News reporter
2008College Road TripNews anchor
2008Killer MovieMargo Moorhead
2010The Big PictureLayla
2011We Bought a ZooTV Anchor
2012Celeste and Jesse ForeverNews reporter
2013White House DownReporter
2015Ted 2Boston Newscaster
2017Girlfriend's DayNewscaster

Television

YearTitle
RoleNotes
1997Babylon 5NewsanchorEpisode: "Epiphanies"
2001GirlfriendsAnchorwomanEpisode: "A Full Court Conspiracy"
2002The AgencyNewsanchorEpisode: "Finale"
2005EveAramanda De La CruzEpisode: "Brit Better Have My Money"
2008DirtEntertainment Anchor No. 1Episode: "Dirty, Slutty Whores"
2008Gotham TonightLydia Filangeri3 episodes; web series that served as a prequel to The Dark Knight
2010NCISNCIS Agent SanchezEpisode: "Double Identity"
2010Days of Our LivesCece Chavez2 episodes
2014RakeNews Anchor No. 1Episode: "Serial Killer"