Jim Gardner is the retired longtime anchor of Action News on WPVI-TV (6abc) in Philadelphia. Born James Goldman on May 17, 1948, in New York City, he anchored Philadelphia’s evening newscasts from 1976 until his final broadcast on December 21, 2022 — a 46-year run that made him one of the longest-serving local news anchors in U.S. television history. He is retired, married, and lives in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Who Is Jim Gardner?
Jim Gardner is an American retired television news anchor best known as the face of Action News on WPVI-TV, Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate, for nearly half a century. His birth name is James Goldman; he adopted “Gardner” as a professional stage name early in his career. Over 46 years at one station, he interviewed every U.S. president and major presidential candidate from 1976 through 2022 and covered every Democratic and Republican national convention starting in 1980.
A Quick Note on Other People Named Jim/Jimmy Gardner
Because “Jim Gardner” is a fairly common name, search results and autocomplete suggestions often mix several unrelated people together. This article covers only the Philadelphia broadcaster. For clarity, here are the others you may encounter:
- Jim Gardner, SkyNews 9 helicopter pilot (Oklahoma City): A different person entirely — a longtime helicopter pilot for News 9 (KWTV) in Oklahoma, who retired from that role in 2025 after roughly a decade at the station and 40 years as a pilot. He is not a news anchor and has no connection to the Philadelphia broadcaster.
- Jimmy Gardner (actor): A British character actor with film and TV credits, including a small role in a Harry Potter film. Unrelated to either newscaster.
- Jimmy “Five Bellies” Gardner: A longtime friend of former footballer Paul Gascoigne, occasionally covered in UK tabloids. Unrelated to either newscaster.
- “Jim Gardner” in Abbott Elementary: The real Jim Gardner appeared as himself in a 2022 episode of the sitcom Abbott Elementary — this is the same Philadelphia broadcaster, not a separate fictional character with his name.
If you landed here searching for the Oklahoma helicopter pilot, the news anchor, or someone else, this guide focuses specifically on the Philadelphia news anchor described in the sections below.
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Jim Gardner Early Life and Education
Jim Gardner was born James Goldman on May 17, 1948, in New York City, and grew up on the Upper East Side in a Reform Jewish household. His father, Joseph Goldman, was a professor and chairman of the ear, nose, and throat department at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Through his father, Gardner is the step-grandson of the noted rabbi Mordecai Kaplan.
He attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School before enrolling at Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1970. As a student, he worked as a play-by-play sports announcer and reported on the 1968 Columbia University protests for the school’s radio station, WKCR-FM.
How Jim Gardner Got His Start in Broadcasting
Gardner’s professional path began in radio, not television:
- 1970: Desk assistant, writer, and producer at 1010 WINS in New York City.
- 1972: Reporter, then news director, at WFAS radio in White Plains, New York.
- 1974: Began his television career at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York.
It was in Buffalo that “James Goldman” became “Jim Gardner.” According to his own account, he adopted the stage name because of antisemitism he encountered in the Buffalo broadcasting community and a sense that there were already too many Jewish-sounding names on staff — a decision that reflects broader, well-documented pressures Jewish broadcasters faced in mid-20th-century American media.
Jim Gardner Career at WPVI-TV / Action News
Gardner joined WPVI in Philadelphia on June 1, 1976, and stayed until his retirement 46 years later. His rise there was fast:
- Started as a reporter and noon anchor.
- Anchoring the 5:30 PM news by November 1976.
- Solo-anchored the 6:00 PM weekday newscast starting May 11, 1977, replacing Larry Kane.
- Also solo-anchored the 11:00 PM weekday newscast from May 11, 1977 until January 11, 2022.
Over his career, he covered every Democratic and Republican National Convention from 1980 onward and interviewed every U.S. president and major presidential candidate between 1976 and 2022. He also reported from major breaking-news scenes around the world.
Why this matters for viewers: A 46-year run on one broadcast is exceptionally rare in local television, where anchors typically move between markets every few years. That continuity is a big part of why Gardner became a fixture of Philadelphia civic life, not just a newsreader.
Jim Gardner Age Today
Jim Gardner was born May 17, 1948, which makes him 78 years old as of 2026.
Jim Gardner Retirement — What Actually Happened
There’s no mystery here, despite how the question is often phrased online (“what happened to Jim Gardner”). The timeline was public and well-documented:
- November 10, 2021: Gardner announced his intention to retire from broadcasting at the end of 2022, effectively beginning a phased wind-down of his schedule.
- January 11, 2022: He anchored his final 11:00 PM Action News broadcast, stepping back to focus solely on the 6:00 PM newscast.
- December 21, 2022: He anchored Action News at 6:00 PM for the final time, officially closing out a 46-year career at the station.
He was not fired, suspended, or forced out — the retirement was a planned, gradual transition announced more than a year in advance.
Jim Gardner Awards and Honors
Gardner’s tenure earned him numerous professional and civic honors:
| Year | Honor |
| 1987–present | Temple University established The Jim Gardner Journalism Prize in his name; he also funds a scholarship at Temple’s college of media and communication |
| 1996 | Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, Person of the Year |
| 2003 | Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, Hall of Fame |
| 2017 | Honored by the City of Philadelphia for 41 years of service |
| 2022 | John Cardinal Foley Award for Excellence in Communication |
| 2022 | The Walt Disney Company’s Mousecar award, recognizing his long service (WPVI-TV is Disney-owned) |
| 2022 | “Jim Gardner Way” dedicated on the block of Monument Road outside the WPVI studios; the Action News broadcast studio is now officially named the Jim Gardner Studio |
Jim Gardner Personal Life: Wife and Family
Gardner is married to Amy Goldman, a former WPVI-TV sales executive who has served as chair of the Radnor Township School District board. Together they have two children, and Gardner has two additional children from a previous marriage — four children in total. The family lives in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Salary and Net Worth: What’s Actually Known
Here’s an honest answer, since this is one of the most-searched terms about him: Jim Gardner’s exact salary and net worth have not been publicly disclosed by him, WPVI-TV, or any primary source. Local news anchor compensation is typically confidential and negotiated privately, and no reliable, sourced figure exists for Gardner specifically. Any specific dollar amount you see cited elsewhere online is almost certainly an unverified estimate, not a confirmed figure — treat those numbers skeptically.
What can be said with confidence is that a 46-year tenure as the lead anchor at a major-market station, plus outside recognition like the Disney Mousecar award, reflects a long, stable, and well-compensated career by industry standards — even without a specific number attached.
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Filmography and TV Appearances
Gardner has made a handful of on-screen appearances beyond the anchor desk, generally as himself:
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2016 | Team Foxcatcher (documentary) | Self |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2002 | Philly | News Anchor (episode: “Thanks for the Mammaries”) |
| 2012 | West Wing Week | Self (episode: “True to Ourselves and Our History”) |
| 2018 | Jeopardy! | Self / Clue Giver (2 episodes) |
| 2021 | Philly D.A. | Self (episode 1.7) |
| 2022 | Abbott Elementary | Himself (episode: “Light Bulb”) |
His Abbott Elementary cameo is the likely source of “Jim Gardner Abbott Elementary” search traffic — it’s a real, brief appearance by the real Gardner, not a fictional character based on him.
Jim Gardner vs. Other People Named Jim/Jimmy Gardner
| Jim Gardner (broadcaster) | Jim Gardner (SkyNews 9 pilot) | |
| Profession | News anchor | Helicopter pilot |
| Market | Philadelphia (WPVI-TV) | Oklahoma City (News 9 / KWTV) |
| Years active there | 1976–2022 (46 years) | 2013–2025 (~12 years at the station; ~40 years as a pilot overall) |
| Status | Retired December 2022 | Retired 2025 |
| Notable for | Anchoring Action News, presidential campaign coverage | Aerial storm and breaking-news coverage |
Key Takeaways
- Jim Gardner (born James Goldman, May 17, 1948) anchored Action News on Philadelphia’s WPVI-TV from 1976 to 2022 — 46 years at one station.
- He is 78 years old as of 2026.
- His retirement was announced in November 2021 and completed on December 21, 2022; he was not dismissed or suspended.
- He is married to Amy Goldman and has four children; the family lives in Villanova, PA.
- His salary and net worth have never been officially disclosed — be wary of specific figures circulating online.
- He is a different person from the Oklahoma-based News 9 helicopter pilot who shares his name.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Jim Gardner?
He was born May 17, 1948, making him 78 as of 2026.
Is Jim Gardner still alive?
Yes. As of this writing, Jim Gardner is alive and retired, living in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
When did Jim Gardner retire from Action News?
His final broadcast was December 21, 2022, capping a 46-year run at WPVI-TV that began June 1, 1976.
Why did Jim Gardner retire?
He announced his intention to retire in November 2021, giving the station and audience over a year’s notice. No health issue, controversy, or dispute has been publicly cited as a cause.
What is Jim Gardner’s real name?
James Goldman. He adopted “Gardner” as a stage name in the 1970s while working in Buffalo.
What is Jim Gardner’s net worth?
Not publicly disclosed. No verified figure exists from Gardner, WPVI-TV, or another primary source.
Is the “Jim Gardner” from Oklahoma’s News 9 the same person as the Philadelphia anchor?
No. That’s a different Jim Gardner — a SkyNews 9 helicopter pilot in Oklahoma City who is unrelated to the Philadelphia news anchor.
Did Jim Gardner appear on Abbott Elementary?
Yes, he appeared as himself in a 2022 episode titled “Light Bulb.”
Who is Jim Gardner’s wife?
Amy Goldman, a former WPVI-TV sales executive who has chaired the Radnor Township School District board.
How many children does Jim Gardner have?
Four — two with his wife Amy, and two from a previous marriage.
What awards has Jim Gardner won?
Highlights include the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia’s Person of the Year (1996) and Hall of Fame induction (2003), a 2017 City of Philadelphia honor, the 2022 John Cardinal Foley Award, and Disney’s Mousecar award.
Does Philadelphia have a street named after Jim Gardner?
Yes — the block of Monument Road outside the WPVI studios was dedicated as “Jim Gardner Way” in 2022.
Conclusion
Jim Gardner’s story is, at its core, a simple one told at unusual length: a New York-born, Columbia-educated broadcaster who built a 46-year career anchoring the evening news for one Philadelphia station, then retired on his own terms after announcing the decision more than a year ahead of time. Much of what circulates online about “Jim Gardner” — helicopter crashes, suspensions, mysterious disappearances — actually belongs to other people who share his name, most notably an Oklahoma-based helicopter pilot. The real story of the Philadelphia anchor is one of remarkable continuity, civic recognition, and a quiet, planned exit from the anchor desk in December 2022.
