Honestly, the term meredith vieira first husband is a bit of a trick question because, in the world of Hollywood marriages that usually last about as long as a carton of milk, Meredith Vieira only ever had one.
That man was Richard Cohen.
They weren't just a "celebrity couple." They were a 38-year marathon. If you’ve ever watched Meredith on The View or Today, you probably saw glimpses of her life behind the scenes, but the reality of her marriage to Richard was way more intense than any morning show segment could ever capture. Richard wasn't just some guy on her arm at red carpets; he was an Emmy-winning journalist, a producer for CBS and CNN, and a man who spent more than half a century fighting a body that was trying to quit on him.
The Second Date "Adios"
Basically, they met in the early '80s while working at CBS.
Meredith has joked before that she first thought he was a "jerk," but then immediately knew she’d marry him. Talk about a vibe shift. But the heavy stuff started early. On their very second date, Richard sat her down and dropped the bomb: he had Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
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He had been diagnosed at 25. He was told "adios" by doctors who basically said there was no hope. Most people would have bolted. Seriously, how many people in their late 20s are ready to sign up for a lifetime of chronic illness on date number two? Meredith didn't blink. She later said she’s always been of the mindset that anyone could get hit by a bus tomorrow, so why let a diagnosis scare her off?
They got married on June 14, 1986.
Life in the "Slammer"
Richard often referred to his body as "the slammer." It’s a pretty gritty way to describe living with a disease that eventually made him legally blind and messed with his mobility for decades.
But here’s what most people get wrong: their house wasn't a place of constant mourning. It was loud and irreverent. They had three kids—Ben, Gabe, and Lily—and raised them in Irvington, New York. Richard was a "cultural Jew," Meredith was raised Catholic, and they did the whole interfaith thing with a lot of humor and very little stress about it.
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- Benjamin (Ben): Their oldest, who eventually went into business.
- Gabriel (Gabe): Followed the family trade and became a reporter for CNN.
- Lily: Their youngest, who Meredith often talked about on her shows.
Through it all, Richard wasn't just dealing with MS. The guy was a magnet for health drama. He survived colon cancer twice. He dealt with a massive blood clot in his lung. Honestly, he was a bit of a medical miracle, or at least incredibly stubborn. He wrote about all of it in his memoirs, specifically Blindsided: Lifting a Life Above Illness and Chasing Hope. He was big on the idea that "denial" is actually a useful tool. If you don't acknowledge the monster in the room, it can't eat you—or at least, that’s how he lived.
Why the Career Sacrifices Mattered
You might remember when Meredith left The View or later stepped back from her massive career at NBC.
People speculated a lot. Was it the money? Was it the pressure? Kinda. But mostly, it was Richard. Chronic illness is a "family affair," as Richard put it in his writing. Meredith became his fiercest advocate and, eventually, a primary caregiver. She was open about the fact that it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows. She admitted they both allowed each other to "vent" and get angry at the situation.
That's the part that feels human. It wasn't a saintly, quiet suffering. It was real, messy, and sometimes involve wanting to "push him out a window" (his words, not mine).
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The End of an Era
Richard Cohen passed away on Christmas Eve, 2024, at the age of 76.
He had been battling pneumonia for about two months before his lungs finally gave out. It’s sort of poetic in a dark way—he was born on Valentine’s Day and died on Christmas Eve. His family, including all three kids, had gathered around him during Thanksgiving because they knew the end was close. They ended up getting one last "glorious month" together.
When the news broke on Today in early 2025, the tributes didn't just focus on him being Meredith's husband. They focused on his 50-year fight and his work as a journalist. He lived longer and more vibrantly than any doctor in 1973 would have predicted.
Actionable Takeaways from the Vieira-Cohen Story
If you're looking at their life and wondering how they made it through nearly four decades of health crises, there are a few real-world lessons to grab:
- Radical Honesty Early On: Richard told Meredith about his MS on date two. Putting the "deal breakers" on the table immediately saves everyone a lot of heartache.
- The Power of Denial: Sometimes, focusing on the "now" instead of a terrifying "future" is the only way to stay sane during a long-term illness.
- Venting is Vital: Both partners need a safe space to be angry at the disease without being angry at each other.
- Humor as a Shield: They were known for being the "cool, irreverent" couple. Never stop laughing, even when the situation is objectively terrible.
Meredith hasn't remarried, and given that Richard was her partner for basically her entire adult life, it’s hard to imagine her with anyone else. Their story isn't a fairy tale—it's much better. It’s a blueprint for how to actually show up for someone when things get ugly.