The award, which is presented to an individual, company or organization that has made an outstanding, innovative and visionary achievement in the arts, sciences or management of television as well as a substantial contribution to the greater Los Angeles area, recognizes Rubin’s legacy of more than three decades of entertainment news reporting for the station.
“Sam was a trailblazer, a pioneer in the modern age of television news. His contributions to entertainment journalism in Los Angeles and around the world are unmatched,” said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy. “We are honored to recognize him for his influence and impact to our television community.”
Rubin died unexpectedly May 10 at age 64 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Brentwood.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 07: Event co-producer Sam Rubin attends the celebration of black cinema hosted by Broadcast Film Critics Association at House of Blues Sunset Strip on January 7, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for BFCA)
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – JANUARY 21: Bruce DuMont, President & founder of The Museum of Broadcast Communications and TV personality Sam Rubin attend the book launch of “Los Angeles Television” by author Joel Tator, presented by The Museum of Broadcast Communications at Universal City Hilton & Towers on January 21, 2015 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – JANUARY 21: TV personality Sam Rubin and author Joel Tator attend the book launch of “Los Angeles Television” by author Joel Tator, presented by The Museum of Broadcast Communications at Universal City Hilton & Towers on January 21, 2015 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 04: Reporter Sam Rubin attends the Premiere of Substance Over Hype’s “Two Bellmen Two” at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on February 4, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
SANTA MONICA, CA – JANUARY 11: TV personalities Jessica Holmes and Sam Rubin speak onstage during The 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 11, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 19: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been shot in black and white. No color version available) KTLA Entertainment Reporter Sam Rubin at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards – Behind The Scenes Day 2 at The Shrine Auditorium on January 19, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 27522_004 (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Turner)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 19: Kathy Connell, SAG Awards Executive Producer, (L) and Sam Rubin, KTLA Entertainment Reporter, roll out the ceremonial red carpet in preparation for the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Expo Hall on January 19, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Sam Rubin attends Project Angel Food’s 29th Annual Angel Awards on September 14, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Project Angel Food)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Sam Rubin attends Project Angel Food’s 29th Annual Angel Awards on September 14, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Project Angel Food)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: KTLA’s Sam Rubin attends the Silver Carpet Roll Out Event for the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 17, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 719737 (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: (L-R) KTLA’s Sam Rubin and 26th SAG Awards Ambassador Logan Browning attend the Silver Carpet Roll Out Event for the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 17, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 726884 (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Turner)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: Sam Rubin arrives at GBK Pre Oscar Gift Lounge at Kimpton La Peer Hotel on February 07, 2020 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for GBK Productions )
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: Entertainment reporter Sam Rubin attends the DPA pre-Emmy Gift Lounge at the Peninsula Hotel on September 18, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – SEPTEMBER 24: Sam Rubin and Howard Bragman attend the 2nd Annual Jewish Image Awards in Film and Television at the Four Seasons Hotel on September 24, 2002, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect)
PARK CITY, UT – JANUARY 22: Producer Brad Luck, reporter Ross King, Reporter Sam Rubin and producer Grace Mendoza of the KTLA Entertainment team pose for a portrait at the Getty Images Portrait Studio during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2006 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA – AUGUST 29: TV news anchor Christine Devine (L) and TV host Sam Rubin attend the 61st Annual Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on August 29, 2009 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
CENTURY CITY, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Kenny Loggins, Alan Ritchson and Sam Rubin pose for a picture at the 2010 Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Gala held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on November 18, 2010 in Century City, California. (Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images for Cedars-Sinai)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – APRIL 09: Host Sam Rubin at the John Wayne Cancer Institutes 26th Annual Odyssey Show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 9, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by John M. Heller/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JUNE 20: Entertainment reporter Sam Rubin speaks onstage at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards at Beverly Hills Hotel on June 20, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images For The Broadcast Television Journalists Association)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JUNE 20: Actress Zooey Deschanel and entertainment reporter Sam Rubin speak onstage at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards at Beverly Hills Hotel on June 20, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images For The Broadcast Television Journalists Association)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 28: Journalist Sam Rubin speaks onstage at the Reelz portion of the 2013 Summer Television Critics Association tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 28, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
SANTA MONICA, CA – JANUARY 10: Host Sam Rubin and actor John Goodman attend the 18th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards held at Barker Hangar on January 10, 2013 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for BFCA)
SANTA MONICA, CA – JANUARY 10: (L-R) Host Sam Rubin, actors Jessica Chastain and Joseph Gordon-Levitt attend the 18th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards held at Barker Hangar on January 10, 2013 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for BFCA)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 28: Journalist Sam Rubin speaks onstage at the ReelzChannel portion of the 2013 Summer Television Critics Association tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 28, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images for REELZ)
He joined KTLA in 1991, and brought a fun-loving, breezy sensibility to the newsroom, coupled with an encyclopedic knowledge of film and television. Rubin earned a reputation as a viewer and industry favorite who put celebrities at ease at red carpet affairs and in face-to-face interviews.
Rubin was a founding member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the largest organization of film and television critics in the United States, with more than 200 members. Additionally, he owned SRE Inc., a television production company that produced more than 200 hours of broadcast and cable programming, including several “Live From” red carpet shows and 120 episodes of the talk show “Hollywood Uncensored.”
Throughout his career, Rubin was honored with numerous Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards, received a Golden Mike Award from the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California, and was named Best Entertainment Reporter by the Los Angeles Press Club. In 2013, he was honored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition with its Impact Award for Outstanding Integrity in Broadcast Journalism.
Off the air, Rubin was an avid philanthropist, supporting a wide range of non-profit organizations and took particular pride in organizing KTLA’s team for the annual MS 150 Bay to Bay Bike Tour, a premiere cycling event that raises funds to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. He also mentored numerous young people, helping others launch their own news careers.
The Los Angeles Area Governors Award will be presented during the 76th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards on July 27 at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire.
