Kent Shocknek is an Emmy Award winning American television and film personality who branched into acting toward the end of a successful career as a TV newscaster. Because of the length of his journalism career, duration of his broadcasts, and breaking news events, by the time of his departure from news, he is credited with having logged more hours as an anchor than anyone else in Los Angeles. The city has designated two separate days "Kent Shocknek Day" in his honor. Before anchoring prime-time newscasts on CBS-TV owned stations, Shocknek was Southern California's first and longest-running television news morning news anchor. Because of his recognizability, he has been sought out to appear in more than 100 feature films and television dramas –often as a newscaster or commentator –giving rise to a popular second career that continues currently. On radio, Shocknek has narrated daily commentaries in L.A., and has hosted a nationally syndicated entertainment program. Viewers and magazine readers also recognize him as an authority on automotive issues.
Career Born Kent Schoknecht in Berkeley, California, he simplified the on-air spelling of his name upon arrival to Los Angeles television. After working at the Long Beach Press Telegram while attending the University of Southern California, Shocknek's first TV reporting job was in Sioux City, Iowa (KCAU-TV), followed by a three-year stint as anchor and Space Shuttle reporter in Orlando, Florida (WFTV).Kent Shocknek's Web Site: http://kentshocknek.com
In 1983, Shocknek joined KNBC-TV as a reporter and fill-in anchor for what was then known as News4LA. Three years later, he anchored the start-up of L.A.'s first TV morning news program, Today in LA on KNBC-TV. Over the years, he broadcast —frequently single-handedly— such marathon events as the Los Angeles riots, O.J. Simpson murder trial, and numerous natural disasters.
Shocknek first made national news headlines anchoring the 1986 launch and explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger; and a strong aftershock to the deadly 5.9 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. The threat of falling studio lights forced Shocknek to take cover under his set's desk for several seconds as he continued reporting about ground- and studio movement.
After helming the consistently top-rated KNBC program for 15 years, Shocknek moved to KCBS-TV to anchor morning editions of CBS 2 News in 2001. There, L.A. Confidential magazine named him one of L.A.'s top three anchors. He anchored live the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, and subsequently reported live on the War in Iraq, Michael Jackson's funeral, presidential inaugurations; plus Southern California's seasonal wildfires and frequent high-speed freeway chases. In November 2013, Shocknek and his popular morning coanchor Suzie Suh moved to prime-time spots on Los Angeles CBS TV-owned station KCAL-TV, anchoring #1-rated newscasts, KCAL 9 News at 8 pm and 10 pm. In a move that surprised viewers, he retired from newscasting in late 2014. Shocknek's final newscast —including a 10-minute career retrospective and farewell video featuring L.A. newsmakers and Hollywood celebrities— aired September 26, 2014. Various local governments and agencies, including the City and County of Los Angeles, as well as the State of California, have honored him for his work.
Shocknek has continued his presence in front of the camera, portraying newscasters and various authority figures in more than 100 major Hollywood film & TV productions and independent films. He has worked with directors Steven Spielberg, Adam McKay in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Barry Levinson, and Justin Lin, among others. On television, Shocknek has marked more than a dozen appearances as newsman "Guy Ross" in the crime procedural drama NCIS and its spin-off series, NCIS: Los Angeles. He also has held recurring roles in Criminal Minds, and the Amazon series, Bosch.
Shocknek's voice is almost as well known as his image; he began writing and delivering the 60-second daily radio commentary Just A Minute with Kent Shocknek on CBS all-news radio station KNX-1070 AM in Los Angeles, in 2003. Later, he launched Premiere Magazine Live!, a weekly national radio show about movies, in approximately 50 markets countrywide, with his wife Karen, using the on-air surname Walters, working as co-host.
Filmography Film Title Year Role NotesWhodunnit2026AnnouncerBorderline2026ReporterThe Dink2026Reporter #2The Subcontractors2025JamesFeature film, also co-producerLilly Lives Alone2025Man at grocery storeParallel Process2025MentorGator Lake: Bonecrusher's Revenge2025PaulRaveland2023Jacobed's fatherVery Close Friends2021ManShort film, male lead, also co-producerThe Chosen One?2021Solemn Leader Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon2021 TV New AnchorCannes Film Festival official entryTake Me to Tarzana2021Himself4 film festival official entry Lucy in the Sky2019 Himself Also known as Pale Blue Dot Speeeed Dating2018 Man No. 4 Short film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice2016 Himself The Vatican Tapes2015 TV Interviewer Uncredited Nightcrawler2014 Himself The Six O'Clock2014 Man Short film, male lead Jobs2013 1980 Newscaster The Amazing Spider-Man2012 TV Newscaster Uncredited Ultraman Saga2012 Capt. Hibiki Voice Brake2012 News Anchor Jack Stern Fast Five2011 News Anchor The Chosen One2010 Newscaster The Company Men2010 Rittenour Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy2010 Battlenizer VoiceImagine That2009Financial Reporter Eagle Eye2008 Newscaster Winged Creatures2008 Hospital Reporter Originally titled Fragments, released on DVD as Winged Creatures Superhero Movie2008 News Anchor Parasomnia2008 Himself Disturbia2007 News Anchor Primeval2007 Newscaster xXx: State of the Union2005 Newscaster Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie2004 Network Reporter Direct-to-video First Daughter2004 Contentious Reporter Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy2004 Network Reporter The Terminal2004 Newscaster #1 Uncredited Envy2004 Newscaster A View to a Kill1985 Fisherman Uncredited Television Title Role NotesLanternsNews AnchorHBO MaxBosch: LegacyL.A. Newscaster3 episodes IMDb TV/Amazon NCIS Guy Ross/Male Reporter 11 episodesBullInterviewer, badgering reporterSeason 4 ep17: "The Invisible Woman," and Season 6 episode 16: "The Diana Affair"Sherman's ShowcaseKent ShocknekIFC/HuluShrillLocal newscasterHuluSpongeBob DocuPantsHostNickelodeon: 8 episodesSecrets of Sulphur SpringsNews AnchorFeifer Worldwide Entertainment Bosch Himself/Newscaster/News Anchor10 episodesTommyNews AnchorSeason 1: episodes 7, 10Manhunt: Dangerous Games Anchor No. 1 The title of the second Manhunt: Unabomber Season 2 episodes 1,2,5ManifestNews AnchorSeason 2 episode 5: "Coordinated Flight" Liberty Falls Pierce Brennan TV movie The Righteous Gemstones AnnouncerHBO Documentary Now! TV Reporter Season 3 episodes 1 and 2: "Batsh*t Valley, Parts 1 & 2" Madam Secretary News Anchor #1/News Anchor/Anchor 5 episodes Supergirl Newscaster Season 1 episode 12: "Bizarro" Brooklyn Nine-Nine Slade Austin Season 4 episode 3: "Coral Palms Pt. 3" NCIS: Los Angeles News Reporter/Reporter/News Anchor 6 episodes Intelligence Reporter/Newscaster 4 episodes Legends CBN Reporter Season 1 episode 8: "Iconoclast" Under the Dome Newscaster Season 1 episode 1: "Pilot" Criminal Minds News Reporter/News Anchor Kent/Reporter John Jenkins 3 episodes The Mentalist Newscaster Season 4 episode 15: "War of the Roses" CSI: NY Reporter Season 6 episode 12: "Criminal Justice" True Jackson, VP Himself Season 1 episode 17: "Max Mannequin" and season 2 episode 13: "True Royal" Medium Newscaster Season 6 episode 10: "You Give Me Fever" FlashForward Hansen/Medical Correspondent 4 episodes Washington Field David Sumner TV movie Meteor WNN Overnight Anchor/Anchorman Episodes: #1.1 and #1.2 The Sarah Silverman Program TV Reporter/Anchor Season 2 episode 10: "Patriot Tact" and Season 2 episode 16: "Vow Wow" The Unit TV Newscaster Season 4 episode 1: "Into Hell: Part One" Dirty Sexy Money Channel 10 Reporter Season 2 episode 12: ""The Family Lawyer" Grave Misconduct TV Reporter TV movie ER News Reporter Season 14 episode 17: "Under Pressure" Monk TV Reporter Season 6 episode 12: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Bank" Shark Newscaster/TV Reporter/Reporter 3 episodes Commander in Chief News Anchor Ben/News Anchor Season 1 episode 11: "No Nukes Is Good Nukes" and Season 1 episode 16: The Elephant in the Room The West Wing Anchorman Season 6 episode 20: "In God We Trust" Blossom Himself Season 4 episode 14: "Big Doings: Part 2"
Awards 8 regional Emmy Awards (individual and group) 2 L.A. Press Club Awards Golden Mic. Award (Best Daytime Newscast) Wm. Randolph Hearst Award (investigative reporting)
Education B.A., University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
References
External links
CBSLA.com website Shocknek bio Kent Shocknek website