SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-Per a Thursday report, Emmy-Award winning television host Hugh Downs died, his family confirmed.

Downs, who was the co-host of NBC’s Today morning program from 1962-1971 and the anchor of ABC news magazine 20/20 from 1978-1999 was 99 at the time of his passing Wednesday.

Downs commenced his media career as a radio announcer in Lima, Ohio in 1942 at WLOK Radio.

In 1957, he helped to launch “The Tonight Show” with Jack Paar.

As of 1962, he commenced a nine-year gig as the host on NBC’s “Today” Show.

In 1985, Downs received the distinction as the Guiness World Record holder for having the greatest number of hours on commercial network television with 15,188 hours on the screen, per reports from KTVK-TV of Phoenix.

In 2004, he was overtaken for this distinction by fellow television veteran Regis Philbin.

Downs is survived by two children, Hugh R. “H.R.” Downs and Deidre Downs, a brother, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.