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Chris Hansen, who has owned a home in Stamford, turns 55 on Wednesday. The television journalist was born March 26, 1959, in Lansing, Mich.
He became a reporter for Lansing NBC affiliate WILX in 1981 during his senior year at Michigan State University. He then reported for WFLA in Tampa, Fla., as well as various radio stations and newspapers in Michigan, including WXYZ in Detroit, and WDIV as an investigative reporter and anchor from 1988.
In May 1993, he joined NBC News as a correspondent for the news magazine "Now With Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric."
He is best known for his work on "Dateline NBC" in the segment called "To Catch a Predator." The popular segment involved catching potential Internet sex predators of underage victims by using a sting operation.
No new episodes have aired since December 2007 although it remains well known. Hansen left NBC in 2013.
Hansen has also served as grand marshal in the Stamford Parade Spectacular, starring giant balloons and Santa the weekend before Thanksgiving.
In March 2007, his book, "To Catch a Predator: Protecting Your Kids from Online Enemies Already in Your Home," was released.
Hansen has appeared on television programs such as "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," "The Adam Carolla Show," "Today," "Scarborough Country," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Rise Guys Morning Show," "The Don and Mike Show," "The Opie and Anthony Radio Show," "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," "Glenn Beck Program," and "Diggnation."
He has received seven Emmy Awards, four Edward R. Murrow Awards, three Clarion awards, the Overseas Press Club award, an IRE, the National Press Club award, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Award; as well as awards for excellence from the Associated Press and United Press International.
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