Rick Cluff | |
|---|---|
 Cluff in 2014 | |
| Born | (1950-06-27)June 27, 1950 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | July 2, 2024(2024-07-02) (aged 74) |
| Education | Seneca College University of Western Ontario |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–2018 |
| Known for | The Early Edition |
| Children | 2[1] |
John Richard Cluff (June 27, 1950 – July 2, 2024) was a Canadian journalist who hosted theCBC Radio Vancouver morning programThe Early Edition from 1997 until 2018. He was a member of theCanadian Football Hall of Fame and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Radio Television Digital News Association.
Cluff was born inToronto, Ontario on June 27, 1950.[2] His father was a former Air Force radio host, performer, and record producer in Toronto.
After being kicked out of school in grade 10, Cluff later attended college as a mature student.[3] He attendedSeneca College and theUniversity of Western Ontario where he worked at the student radio stations.[4] After attending graduate school, he earned a position with the CBC.[3]
When Cluff began working at Seneca's student radio show, his father discouraged him from thinking of radio as a career. He was especially opposed to the CBC "because the CBC is full of left-wing communists. And radio is a dead-end career."[3]
Cluff began his career at CBC in 1976 as a radio journalist focusing on sports.[5] As a sports journalist, he covered eight Olympic games and five Commonwealth games.[6] Cluff was one of the few journalists allowed to enter Moscow and Prague during the World Hockey Championships at the time of theCold War.[7]
Cluff was sent as a reporter to the1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where he reported for two hours on theCentennial Olympic Park bombing with limited preparation. Upon his return, the vice presidents of CBC asked him if he would host his own show.[8] He was later asked by Susan Englebert to take up a three-year position in Vancouver as host ofThe Early Edition, which was later extended.[3]
Cluff began his 20-year career as host ofThe Early Edition in September 1997.[6] In 1999, he was inducted into theCanadian Football Hall of Fame.[9]
In June 2017, before announcing his retirement, Cluff underwent open-heart surgery after living with hereditary heart disease.[10] In December 2017, it was announced that Stephen Quinn would replace Cluff.[11] In 2018, he was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Radio Television Digital News Association.[12]
Cluff and his wife had two children.[13] He died from cancer on July 2, 2024, at the age of 74.[14][15]