Larry Henderson, the first regular news anchor of CBC TV, died in Toronto on Nov. 26 at age 89.

Henderson started as an announcer on CBC Radio, hosting its Headliners series before joining The National News, the televised program that became The National, from 1954 to 1959.

In ’59, he left the network over a contract dispute but remained in broadcasting, working at CTV and in Africa to help develop Tanzania’s broadcast system. He later became the editor of the conservative publication The Catholic Register.

Before his journalism career, Henderson attended McGill University on a piano scholarship and worked as an actor in England – once playing alongside Alec Guinness in Romeo and Juliet. He also served in the Canadian Army in North Africa and Italy during the Second World War.

CTV anchor and colleague Lloyd Robertson told the Toronto Star, ‘They [CBC] wanted a skilled announcer and that was all. But Henderson aspired to analyze the news and even report from the field.’

He is survived by his sons Graham and Ross.