Former MSNBC host and liberal commentator Ed Schultz has passed away due to natural causes. He was 64. Russian-backed television network RT America, where Schultz hosted a show, released a statement on Thursday, saying: "We at RT America are sad to announce the passing of Edward Andrew Schultz. "Ed Schultz passed quietly early morning on July 5 at his home in Washington, D.C. This announcement comes as a shock to all of us here at RT America." RT America editor in chief Margarita Simonyan added, "We are devastated by the news of the sudden death of our brilliant anchor, one of the best TV-Journalists in America, Ed Schultz." Schultz got his start in broadcast media as a sportscaster in Fargo, North Dakota, in the 1980s. But after he eventually established himself as a conservative political pundit, he changed his views and became a champion of liberal causes. During an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2004, he referred to himself as "a gun-toting, meat-eating lefty." Schultz said that meeting homeless people in a soup kitchen was a turning point for him in the late 1990s, and caused him to direct his focus more to the plight of the struggling American worker. From 2009 to 2015, Schultz hosted "The Ed Show" on MSNBC — for which he was best known — before starting his RT America spot in 2016. In 2017, RT America was required to register as a foreign agent. Schultz reportedly said at the time, "Let them call me what they want, I am going to speak the truth no matter what." RT America news director Mikhail Solodovnikov said of Schultz in a statement, "He was a big-time professional and a tough fighter. Between us I always called him a 'gladiator.' He would never give up; he was always a winner."<doc-sep>Ed Schultz, host of ‘News with Ed’ on RT America, passed away on July 5 at his home in Washington, DC. The veteran radio and television broadcaster was 64. This announcement comes as a shock to all of us. Ed was for decades a prominent sports and political radio commentator and personality in the upper Midwest. After several years as one of the most watched anchormen on MSNBC Ed moved to RT America in January of 2016. “The News with Ed Schultz” aired weeknights from Monday – Thursday at 8 PM Eastern Time. Ed’s broadcast was the flagship show at RT. “We are devastated by the news of the sudden death of our brilliant anchor, one of the best TV journalists in America, Ed Schultz," said RT Editor in Chief Margarita Simonyan. The respect that Ed commanded among viewers and among his colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic is impossible to overstate. He was an unconditional patriot of his country, an honest and principled man. "When the campaign against RT America began and the channel was forced to register as a foreign agent, Ed set an example for all of us, saying: 'Let them call me what they want, I am going to speak the truth no matter what',” Simonyan added. Shocked by the passing of my colleague Ed Schultz. His welcoming smile and sense of humour was always one of my favourite parts of being at RT America's, DC headquarters. His big personality and strong beliefs made him one of the best in the business. RIP my friend. pic.twitter.com/aTTNeptYte — Alex Mihailovich🇨🇦 (@real_alexm) July 5, 2018 Ed’s time at RT America was marked by several high profile news events, which showcased his talents and experience as a newsman. In February 2016 Ed interviewed Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church on the first ever occasion of his meeting with the Roman Catholic Pope in history. In June 2016 Ed covered the Brexit vote for RT America out of our affiliate studios in London, with Larry King co-hosting the coverage from the US. Ed reported live from the Red Square in Moscow in May of 2017 during Russia’s 72nd anniversary of the Victory Day, one of the first such newscasts for a leading American news anchor. WATCH: Remembering Ed Schultz: RT America anchor’s greatest stories He returned to the United Kingdom in June 2017 to cover the UK’s general election from Edinburgh – the vote that saw Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party return to prominence. Ed also served as head anchor for numerous RT America special coverage shows, including the 2016 US election and President Donald Trump’s decision to carry out airstrikes against Syria in April 2017. RIP Ed Schultz. I'll always be grateful for you telling my cancer story and having both my brother & I appear on your show to talk about Obamacare. You helped me raise a significant amount of money to pay my medical bills & sent me a personal check on top of that. Thank you, sir. — Daniel Seco (@DanielJSeco) July 5, 2018 Still processing the shock and sadness at Ed Schultz’s death. He was a distinctive, passionate voice who channeled a worldview massively underrepresented in the media. He was also immensely gracious to me, personally. Sending condolences to his friends and family. RIP. — Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) July 5, 2018 I appeared on the Ed Schultz MSNBC show many times & he appeared on my show as well. He was always very kind to me, and he always fought for working Americans = including the ones who attacked him. He was truly someone who dedicated his success to the society that produced him. pic.twitter.com/PvZpPbv0GA — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) July 5, 2018 “Ed was more than a colleague, he was a close and true friend. He was a big-time professional and a tough fighter. Between us I always called him a 'gladiator.' He would never give up; he was always a winner. He was tough on a lot of young journalists in RT America’s newsroom; he was a mentor to a few,” said RT America News Director Mikhail Solodovnikov. My sincere condolences go out to his wife, family and all fans, who watched his amazing show every night. We lost one of the best and most honest journalistic voices in America. We lost a legend. Ed Schultz’s impact on the news industry will be felt for years. His work gave voice to workers and labor unions. To American workers Ed was a champion and someone they could count on for support. Ed spoke inconvenient truths when it came to foreign policy and America’s role in the world. Ed wanted the United States to be a role model to the world and to its own citizens. He spoke out when he saw his country betraying that ideal. For this he faced constant pressure from the American mainstream news media. Above all else Ed was an individual who created and maintained strong relationships with his viewers and his co-workers. Ed was universally praised by the hundreds of individuals he interviewed over the years for his ability to ask tough questions, think creatively, and give his opponents the benefit of the doubt. There were few in the news industry as respected as Ed Schultz.To his friends and colleagues and to the staff at RT he was known as “Big Eddy.” His proud voice and imposing presence motivated us to do our best in a stressful industry during a stressful and turbulent period. Ed was a motivator and someone who would set you straight if you were not meeting your potential; but he was kind, caring, and the kind of person you could open up to. Ed will be missed. Ed’s family asks for privacy during this time of grieving.<doc-sep>
Ed Schultz began his career in Fargo in the late 1980s as a sportscaster. He later became a commentator and host of “The Ed Show” on MSNBC, which ran from 2009 to 2015. | Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images Broadcaster Ed Schultz dies at 64 Liberal broadcaster Ed Schultz died at his home in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, according to the television network RT, on which he hosted a show. “We are devastated by the news of the sudden death of our brilliant anchor, one of the best TV-Journalists in America, Ed Schultz,” RT editor in chief Margarita Simonyan said in a statement. Fargo, North Dakota, television station WDAY reported he died of natural causes. Schultz, 64, began his career in Fargo in the late 1980s as a sportscaster. He later became a commentator and host of “The Ed Show” on MSNBC, which ran from 2009 to 2015. Schultz went on to host a news program on RT America in which he discussed “the most controversial issues affecting Americans and gives a platform to diverse voices, stories and perspectives to viewers,” according to his bio on the site. RT, which is Russia-backed, was last year forced to register as a “foreign agent” by the Justice Department. “When the campaign against RT America began and the channel was forced to register as a foreign agent, Ed set an example for all of us, saying: ‘Let them call me what they want, I am going to speak the truth no matter what’,” Simonyan said in the statement. RT America news director Mikhail Solodovnikov said in a statement that Schultz was “a close and true friend.” “He was a big-time professional and a tough fighter,” Solodovnikov said. “Between us I always called him a ‘gladiator.’ He would never give up; he was always a winner. He was tough on a lot of young journalists in RT America’s newsroom; he was a mentor to a few.”