You’ve probably seen her on 20/20 or caught her sharp, "pitbull" style of reporting on a high-profile crime case. Pat LaLama doesn't just read the news; she hunts it. But lately, there’s been a ton of curiosity about the person behind the microphone, specifically regarding the pat lalama journalist age and how she’s managed to stay so relevant in an industry that usually obsesses over youth.
Honestly, she’s a force of nature.
Born in Ohio to an Italian immigrant family, Pat didn't have a silver spoon. Her dad, who left school in the seventh grade to support his family, gave her two pieces of advice that basically became her North Star: find a career you love and never, ever depend on a man to pay your bills. She took that to heart. While studying journalism at Ohio State University, she was already pulling double duty—working as a cub reporter for a local radio station by day and waitressing at night to keep the lights on.
The Reality of Pat Lalama Journalist Age in 2026
If you're looking for the hard numbers, Pat LaLama is 71 years old as of early 2026. She was 70 during her well-documented 47th-anniversary milestone in the industry back in March 2025.
She's proud of it.
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Unlike many in the broadcast world who feel pressured to chase the fountain of youth, Pat has been vocal about refusing plastic surgery. She’s leaning into her experience. To her, being on the air at this age isn't a limitation; it’s a badge of honor. She once mentioned that she’s never looked or acted like the "mainstream media anchor women" of the past, and that’s exactly why she’s still here.
Longevity in journalism is rare. It’s even rarer for women.
Pat has spent nearly five decades in the game, spanning eight different cities. She’s been shot at during the 1992 LA Riots, covered the O.J. Simpson trial, stood her ground during the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, and survived Hurricane Katrina on a steady diet of Cuban coffee. You don't get that kind of "street cred" by sitting behind a desk.
Breaking Barriers and Dealing with the "Old Boys' Club"
Her career wasn't always a straight line to success. There were plenty of "sexist pieces of crap," as she’s bluntly put it, who tried to sideline her.
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One story she tells often involves a male reporter who tried to physically push past her in a courtroom. She didn't just move; she fired back with a comment about his anatomy that probably still burns today. That’s Pat. She’s the reporter who refused to just be an "anchor." She demanded to be in the mud, at the fires, and in the middle of the riots.
- Boston: She was told she wasn't their "cup of tea" and lost her job. She went out, got drinks with friends, and moved to Chicago to join NBC the next day.
- Los Angeles: This is where her crime reporting really took off, eventually leading to her becoming a staple on Investigation Discovery and 20/20.
- The "Pitbull" Persona: She finds her own stories. While other correspondents wait for assignments, she’s the one calling the producers saying, "I’ve got a case."
Why She Stopped Reporting on Politics
You might notice she mostly sticks to crime and criminal justice these days. There’s a reason for that. Pat has been open about the fact that she finds modern political reporting too biased. She says she "just can't do it" anymore because the lack of fairness makes her angry.
Crime, however, is different. To her, a murder trial is like a "chess match." She’s fascinated by the psychology and the legal strategy. It’s where she feels she can be the most honest.
Turning Personal Tragedy into Resilience
You can't talk about Pat’s age and career without talking about the grit it took to stay standing after 2016. That was the year she lost her husband, the prominent defense attorney Anthony Brooklier. They had a classic "enemies to lovers" start; they met in a courtroom when she was 37. He was persistent, and they eventually married 12 years later.
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His death by suicide was a massive, public blow.
Most people would have disappeared. Pat took six weeks off. Then, she got back to work. She’s since used that experience to advocate for mental health awareness, proving that even at a later stage in life, you can reinvent your purpose.
Actionable Insights from Pat’s Journey
If you’re looking at Pat LaLama’s career and wondering how to replicate that kind of staying power, it’s not about the "right" age or the "right" look. It’s about these specific moves:
- Enterprise Everything: Don't wait for permission. Find your own "stories" or projects and bring them to the table.
- Refuse the Mold: If the industry wants a "look," give them a "style" instead. Authenticity is harder to replace than a polished facade.
- Network Without Burning Bridges: Pat credits much of her longevity to the fact that she did her research and kept her professional relationships fair, even when things got tough.
- Pivot When Necessary: When politics felt too biased for her, she leaned into crime journalism where her passion actually lived.
Pat LaLama is living proof that being a "pitbull" doesn't have an expiration date. She’s still researching, still producing, and still showing up on your screen because she refuses to be sidelined by the calendar. If you want to follow her lead, start by auditing your own career—are you waiting for assignments, or are you hunting them down?
To see her in action, you can follow her latest investigative work on ABC’s 20/20 or check out her frequent expert commentary on various true crime networks.