Former journalist and A Current Affair host Mike Willesee has died aged 76. Willesee was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2016.
His television career, which started with the ABC and continued with the Nine and Seven networks, spanned more than 50 years.
Born on June 29, 1942 in Perth, the son of ALP Senator Donald Willesee was known for his uncompromising interview style and willingness to push the envelope.
Mike Willesee with Kerri Anne Kennerly in 2009. Source: Getty Images
As a young journalist, he started his career in 1967 with the ABC current affairs program This Day Tonight, his fearless interviewing techniques garnering him respect within the industry and from audiences.
In 1969 he moved within the ABC to Four Corners, where he stayed until 1971 when he made the move to commercial television.
Willesee's profile in The Australian Media Hall of Fame credits him with creating nightly commercial current affairs programming in Australia, pointing to his 20-years presenting Nine's A Current Affair.
"Just when his target interviewee had thought they’d disposed of a question and were probably nervously anticipating the next one, Willesee, with his trademark quizzical half-smile, would just sit there," the profile reads.
"The interviewee, thrown off-balance, would start talking again, to fill the 'dead' air-space. And say things they hadn’t intended to say, sometimes things they’d been determined NOT to say."
One of Willesee's most famous moments was asking then opposition leader John Hewson about the introduction of a GST in 1993.
Many credit Mr Hewson's fumbling response to Willesee's question as a catalyst for Paul Keating's victory in that year's federal election.
In 2002, he was inducted into the TV Week Logie Awards Hall of Fame.
Tributes have flooded in from fellow Australian journalists, describing Willesee as a "spellbinding interviewer" and "a master of measured pause".
"Tough reporter, brilliant documentary maker, successful media entrepreneur, spellbinding interviewer," tweeted Ten News journalist Hugh Riminton. "A man of complex flaws but enormous strengths, including kindness to those starting out."
"We’ll remember an incredible journalist, tenacious and tough. A loss for our industry," Seven Network presenter Melissa Doyle said.
With AAP
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