Hollywood Remembers Sam Rubin: “A Mensch With A Microphone”

The news this morning of the death of entertainment journalist Sam Rubin has touched a nerve in Los Angeles, with his home base KTLA going live and commercial free with remembrances and tributes from the top of the 1 o’clock news through the station’s regularly-scheduled programming at 2 p.m.

Among those calling in was Henry Winkler, who was one of Rubin’s favorite guests.

“It’s the most horrible thing,” Winkler said via phone from an airport. “Two things I know: He made you feel special every single time [he interviewed you], and I am not the only person who felt that special warmth.”

Jerry O’Connell, another regular on the show, spoke with the anchors on air.

“The man was a legend. Everyone is going to have a story about how Mr. Rubin touched them, personally. My first live interview was with Sam at KTLA. The entertainment industry is a scary place, it is a competitive place…Sam greeted everyone with warmth and open arms.”

A noticeably-distraught Danny Trejo called in from Canada where he was traveling, saying of Rubin, “He was somebody if you met him, you’d call him a friend. I’m in Canada right now and they’re calling me and [I go], “Oh man, not my buddy” He was just a real sweetheart of a guy.” Trejo then asked the anchors to let him know about memorial services saying, “If I can, I’ll be there.”

Actor Greg Grunberg phoned in to pay tribute, dubbing Rubin “a mensch with a microphone,” and choking up as he thanked the anchors for allowing him time on-air to remember is friend. Grunberg also took to Twitter to express his feelings.

Former NCIS star Pauley Perrette told KTLA, “I just can’t believe this. Sam was so different than everyone else in this whole industry. Part of that job is just endless interviews, and it just wasn’t my favorite part of the job. But Sam was different.”

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