Charles Mitchel

For other people named Charles Mitchel, see Charles Mitchel (disambiguation).

Charles Mitchel
Mitchel on his last news broadcast in 1984
Born	Charles Mitchel 8 November 1920 (1920-11-08) Dublin, Ireland
Died	18 August 1996 (1996-08-19) (aged 75) Dublin, Ireland
Education	Trinty College Dublin
Occupation	Actor and newscaster
Spouse(s)	Betty Mitchel
Children	Nicholas Mitchel Susan Mitchel
Years active	1961–1984
Notable credit(s)	Nine O'Clock News

Charles Gerald Mitchel (8 November 1920 – 18 August 1996) was an Irish actor and broadcaster best known as a newsreader for the RTÉ News from 1961 until 1984. He was the first person to read the news on Telefís Éireann.

Early life

Born in Dublin in 1920, Mitchel was educated at the famed Clongowes Wood College boarding school in Clane, County Kildare.^[1] Mitchel subsequently attended Trinity College Dublin where he studied forestry. It was here that his interest in acting developed and he quickly became a leading member of the Trinity Players. Mitchel left Trinity in 1947 without taking a degree. He immediately joined the Gate Theatre where he played with the Longford company until 1958. He was one of the founders of Irish Actors Equity and served as president of the Catholic Stage Guild.^[2]

Broadcasting career

In 1961 Mitchel joined the newly formed state television station, Telefís Éireann, as chief newscaster. His starting salary was £26 per week.^[3] Mitchel was one of the first faces seen on the new station when he read the first news bulletin on 31 December 1961, minutes after the station was launched. He received numerous honours, including being awarded television personality of the year, and was the first RTÉ presenter to win a Jacobs' Award. Mitchel retired from the station in November 1984.

In 1989 he joined LMFM, a local radio station in Co. Louth, where he read the news and answered listeners' queries.^[1]

Personal life

Mitchel was keenly interested in animal welfare and served as vice-president of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for several years in the 1980s. He bred basset hounds and adjudicated at dog shows.

Mitchel married Elizabeth ('Betty') Stubbs on 9 May 1949 and they had two children, Nicholas and Susan. He died in Bloomfield Nursing Home, Donnybrook and is buried at Glasnevin cemetery.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Dictionary of Irish Biography, Patrick Long, "Mitchel, Charles Gerald", retrieved 22 December 2010
2. ^ The Irish Times ("Death of Charles Mitchel, the voice of news on RTÉ", p.4) , August 19, 1996
3. ^ The Irish Times ("Voice of an Era", p.37) , August 24, 1996

Persondata
Name	Mitchel, Charles
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	8 November 1920
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Date of death	18 August 1996
Place of death	Dublin, Ireland