Lauren Sánchez

Lauren Wendy Sánchez (born December 19, 1969) is an American media personality who gained fame as an entertainment reporter and news anchor. She has been a guest host on The View, co-host on KTTV Fox 11's Good Day LA and anchor on the Fox 11 News at Ten, and anchor and special correspondent on Extra. Sánchez has also been a regular contributor on shows including Larry King Live, The Joy Behar Show and Showbiz Tonight.[1]

Lauren Sánchez
Sánchez in 2023
Born
Lauren Wendy Sánchez

(1969-12-19) December 19, 1969
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Occupations
  • News anchor
  • media personality
Years active1997–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2019)​
PartnerJeff Bezos (2019–present)
Children3

Career

Sánchez began her career as a desk assistant at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. She also held positions as an anchor and reporter at KTVK-TV in Phoenix before joining the syndicated entertainment show Extra as a reporter. From there, Sánchez moved to Fox Sports Net, where she earned an Emmy nomination as anchor and correspondent for the sports magazine Going Deep, served as an anchor for Fox Sports News Primetime and later as entertainment reporter for FSN's Best Damn Sports Show Period.

In 1999, Sánchez returned to KCOP-TV to anchor UPN News 13,[2] where she won an Emmy Award.[3] Sánchez also landed the entertainment reporting gig for KTTV's 10pm news. She was the runner-up in the nationwide hosting competition during season 2 of The View in February 2000. The position was ultimately given to Lisa Ling. In 2005, Sánchez became the original host of FOX's popular dancing competition So You Think You Can Dance. Sánchez left the show after one season to have her second child. In 2009, Sánchez returned to Extra as weekend anchor and special correspondent. Sánchez continues to occasionally work on Good Day LA, Extra and other TV shows.

Sánchez was featured in People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" issue in 2010 and Us Weekly's "Hot Bodies" issue.[4]

In 2016, she founded Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned aerial film and production company. Sánchez now focuses on film and television projects which allow her to use her skills as a licensed pilot of airplanes and helicopters.[5]

She foresees flying to space early in 2024 with an all-female crew on board a New Shepard.[6]

Personal life

Lauren Wendy Sánchez was born to a second-generation Mexican-American family in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[7] Sánchez has a son from her relationship with former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez.[7] In August 2005, she married Patrick Whitesell, a Hollywood agent and founding partner of Endeavor talent agency.[8] Sánchez has a son and daughter with Whitesell.[9][10]

In 2018, Sánchez had an extramarital affair with businessman and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos while they were both married, leading to his divorce from his wife MacKenzie to whom he had been married for 25 years, before founding Amazon. This eventually led to her divorce from Whitesell.[11]

In February 2019, Bezos published a blog post alleging that National Enquirer publisher American Media, Inc. had attempted blackmail and extortion in connection with Bezos' alleged affair with Sánchez.[12] In April 2019, Sánchez and Whitesell filed for divorce,[13] which was finalized in October of that year.[14] In 2020, Sánchez was commonly described as Bezos' girlfriend.[15][16][17] On May 22, 2023, Sánchez and Bezos became engaged.[18]

Filmography

Sánchez has also made cameo appearances in films and television series, including in the following:

Film
List of film credits
Year Title
 Role Notes
1999 Fight Club Channel 4 Reporter Credited as W. Lauren Sanchez
2003 Hollywood Homicide Chopper Newscaster
2004 The Day After Tomorrow International Newscaster
Cellular News Anchor No. 2
2005 Fantastic Four KCOP / KTTV reporter
The Longest Yard Herself
2006 Akeelah and the Bee Reporter
Zoom Reporter
2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Fox News reporter
2008 College Road Trip News anchor
Killer Movie Margo Moorhead
2010 The Big Picture Layla
2011 We Bought a Zoo TV Anchor
2012 Celeste and Jesse Forever News reporter
2013 White House Down Reporter
2015 Ted 2 Boston Newscaster
2017 Girlfriend's Day Newscaster

Television
List of television credits
Year Title
 Role Notes
1997 Babylon 5 Newsanchor Episode: "Epiphanies"
2001 Girlfriends Anchorwoman Episode: "A Full Court Conspiracy"
2002 The Agency Newsanchor Episode: "Finale"
2005 Eve Aramanda De La Cruz Episode: "Brit Better Have My Money"
2008 Dirt Entertainment Anchor No. 1 Episode: "Dirty, Slutty Whores"
Gotham Tonight Lydia Filangeri 3 episodes; web series that served as a prequel to The Dark Knight
2010 NCIS NCIS Agent Sanchez Episode: "Double Identity"
Days of Our Lives Cece Chavez 2 episodes
2014 Rake News Anchor No. 1 Episode: "Serial Killer"

References
  1. "Lauren Sanchez Good Day L.A.", YouTube, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved March 3, 2020
  2. "Sanchez tapped news anchor at UPN 13". Variety. December 27, 1999. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  3. "With 7 Wins, KTTV Is No. 1 at the L.A. Emmys". Los Angeles Times. June 25, 2001. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  4. "Who is Lauren Sanchez, the new woman in Jeff Bezos' life?". Rediff. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  5. "Meet the TV Anchor Turned Pilot Who Now Flies Helicopters for Movies". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  6. Derek Blasberg (January 25, 2023). "Lauren Sánchez on Going to Space and Working With Jeff Bezos". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  7. "Inside Lauren Sanchez's Life Before Jeff Bezos". E! Online. January 18, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  8. "Dance Host Sanchez Weds Hollywood Agent". Lauren Sanchez : People.com. March 20, 2008. Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  9. "Dance Host Lauren Sanchez Has a Boy". people.com. May 17, 2007. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  10. "Lauren Sanchez and Patrick Whitesell Welcome a Girl". people.com. March 14, 2008. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  11. "Court Docs Reveal Big New Claims in the Jeff Bezos Affair Blowup".
  12. Weise, Karen (February 7, 2019). "Jeff Bezos Accuses National Enquirer of 'Extortion and Blackmail'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  13. "Lauren Sanchez Files for Divorce After Bezos Split Finalized". Bloomberg.com. April 6, 2019.
  14. Murphy, Helen (October 19, 2019). "Lauren Sanchez and Ex Patrick Whitesell Reach Divorce Agreement Months After Filing". People. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  15. "Jeff Bezos' Girlfriend, Former LA TV Anchor Lauren Sanchez, Cannot Be Deposed Over Nude Photo Leak". NBC Los Angeles. November 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  16. Hartmans, Avery (December 26, 2020). "Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, have weathered a tabloid scandal, a lawsuit, and maybe even interference from a foreign government. Here's where their relationship began and everything that's happened since". Business Insider. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  17. Ramey, Joe Palazzolo and Corinne (January 25, 2020). "WSJ News Exclusive | Prosecutors Have Evidence Bezos' Girlfriend Gave Texts to Brother Who Leaked to National Enquirer". Wall Street Journal – via www.wsj.com.
  18. "Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are engaged". CNN. May 22, 2023.
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