Jim Avila, a long-time senior correspondent for ABC News, has died at the age of 69.
His death was announced on air during a live broadcast on the channel, and a statement confirmed that the national TV figure had died after a ‘long illness’ but shared no further details about his cause of death.
Avila had a kidney transplant in 2020 after his brother donated an organ, and left the network in 2021.
Jim Avila died on November 12, the network confirmed
In a statement, ABC President Almin Karamehmedovic said: “We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, including his three children, Jamie, Jenny, and Evan, and we thank him for his many contributions and unwavering commitment to seeking out the truth.”
In an email to staff, Karamehmedovic added: "Jim was a gifted journalist and a generous colleague.”
Avila’s official ABC biography states: "He won the prestigious Merriman Award from the White House Correspondents Association for breaking the news that the United States and Cuba had reopened diplomatic relations,
"As the Senior Law and Justice Correspondent, he has covered every major trial from Jerry Sandusky and Penn State to Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson and countless others,
"He led reports on immigration, making several trips to the southern border to document stories of immigrants, and also covered the death of Freddie Gray and civil unrest in Baltimore."
Award-winning journalist who covered the biggest stories
Avila worked for two decades as a Los Angeles correspondent, reporting on many huge cases.
Between 2012 and 2016 he covered the White House, and worked as ABC’s 20/20 correspondent.
After leaving ABC, Avila returned to journalism as a senior investigative reported for a San Diego-based ABC affiliate, giving an interview in which he said that ‘retirement was boring’.