Lara Spencer

{{Distinguish|Laura Spencer (disambiguation){{!}}Laura Spencer}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Lara Spencer

| image = Lara_Spencer_May_2014.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Spencer in 2014

| alt =

| birth_name = Lara Christine Von Seelen

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|6|19}}

| birth_place = Garden City, New York, U.S.

| alma_mater = Pennsylvania State University

| occupation = Television host, television producer

| spouse = {{plainlist|

{{marriage|David Haffenreffer|September 30, 2000|June 2015|end=divorce}}
{{marriage|Richard McVey|September 1, 2018}}

}}

| children = 2

}}

Lara Christine Von Seelen (known professionally as Lara Spencer; born June 19, 1969){{cite web| url = http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lara-spencer-195213/bio/| title= Lara Spencer | publisher=TVGuide.com| access-date= March 22, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135947/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lara-spencer-195213/bio/|url-status=dead}} is an American television journalist. She is best known for her work on ABC's Good Morning America, previously as co-anchor and currently as contributor.{{cite web |url= https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/lara-spencer-insider-anchor-joins-good-morning-america/story?id=13148140 |title=Lara Spencer, Insider Co-Anchor, Joins Good Morning America|first= Ben|last= Sherwood|work=abcnews.go.com |date=2011-03-17|access-date=11 December 2013}} She is also a correspondent for Nightline and ABC News. She was the host of the syndicated entertainment newsmagazine The Insider from 2004 to 2011 and was a regular contributor to CBS's The Early Show.{{cite web |url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lara-spencer-leaving-insider-abc-168809 |title=Lara Spencer Leaving 'The Insider' for 'Good Morning America' - The Hollywood Reporter |first= Marisa|last= Guthrie|work=hollywoodreporter.com |date= 2011-03-17|access-date=11 December 2013}} She was the national correspondent for Good Morning America and spent several years as a lifestyle reporter for WABC-TV. She hosted Antiques Roadshow on PBS for the 2004 and 2005 seasons{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/gopsusports/docs/1213-wswimguide/32|title=2012-13 Penn State Women's Swimming and Diving Yearbook|date=8 January 2013 |access-date=2016-09-13}} and Antiques Roadshow FYI, a spin-off of Antiques Roadshow, during 2005. She hosts the show Flea Market Flip on both HGTV and the Great American Country channel. In April 2018, she announced she would be only appearing on GMA three days a week to focus on her television producing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a19828947/lara-spencer-good-morning-america/|title=Lara Spencer Is Stepping Away From Role at "Good Morning America"|date=2018-04-16|work=Good Housekeeping|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US}}

Biography

File:LaraSpencerAAFeb09.jpg

Spencer grew up in the New York suburb of Garden City, Long Island, the daughter of Richard Ernest and Carolyn von Seelen. She graduated from Garden City High School in 1987.{{cite news| url =http://www.marieclaire.com/career-advice/news/a12803/passionista-playbook/| title=How I Got Here: 'Good Morning America' Cohost Lara Spencer Explains Her Career Path| first= Maria| last= Ricapito| date= December 15, 2014| work= Marie Claire | access-date= March 22, 2014| archive-date= March 22, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150322211135/http://www.marieclaire.com/career-advice/news/a12803/passionista-playbook/ | url-status=live}} She attended Pennsylvania State University on an athletic scholarship for springboard and platform diving and was a nationally ranked competitive diver. She was named an All American Athlete in 1991,{{cite press release|author= |title= Lara Spencer to be grand marshal at Homecoming 2014|url= http://news.psu.edu/story/323812/2014/08/25/campus-life/lara-spencer-be-grand-marshal-homecoming-2014|publisher= news.psu.edu|access-date= 23 March 2015}} her senior year, and graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism.{{cite web |url= http://laraspencer.net/site/biography.html |title=Lara Spencer Biography|work=laraspencer.net |year=2013 |access-date=December 11, 2013 | archive-date= November 24, 2013| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131124080314/http://www.laraspencer.net/site/biography.html}}{{cite web|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1996_jan-dec/01/01-31-96tdc/01-31-96d03-009.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010320150201/http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1996_jan-dec/01/01-31-96tdc/01-31-96d03-009.htm |title=Coach scores Brownie points |first=Kate |last=Blaschak |publisher=The Digital Collegian |date=1996-01-31 |archive-date=20 March 2001 |access-date=11 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}

Following college, Spencer went into the NBC page program, where she would volunteer to work with other reporters in order to gain experience. From there, she landed a position at the CBS affiliate WDEF-TV in Chattanooga, Tennessee as a multimedia journalist shooting and producing her own stories. A year later, she joined News 12 Long Island. Two years later, she began to anchor overnight news updates for WABC-TV.{{cite news |url= https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204488304574433241217390638 |title=Lara Spencer and 'The Insider'|first= Sarah E.|last= Needleman|work=The Wall Street Journal |date= 2009-09-29|publisher=Dow Jones |location=New York |issn=0099-9660 |access-date=11 December 2013}} While there, she convened over coverage of the TWA Flight 800 crash, bringing her to the attention of national news executives.{{cite web |url=http://www.greenwichmag.com/g/February-2012/Firmly-Anchored/ |title=Firmly Anchored |first=Jill |last=Johnson |work=greenwichmag.com |date=February 2012 |access-date=11 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622123837/http://www.greenwichmag.com/g/February-2012/Firmly-Anchored/ |archive-date=22 June 2013 }} She then joined ABC's Good Morning America in 1999 as a national correspondent.

Spencer married former CNNfn journalist David Haffenreffer on September 30, 2000, at St. Andrew's Dune Church in an Episcopal ceremony.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/01/style/weddings-lara-spencer-david-haffenreffer.html|title=WEDDINGS; Lara Spencer, David Haffenreffer|date=October 1, 2000|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 16, 2012}} They lived in the RiversideCostagregni, Susie, "Antares party raises funds for Greenwich YMCA", headline for "The dish with susie" column in The Advocate (Stamford) of Stamford, Connecticut, May 13, 2007, page 2 section of Greenwich, Connecticut. The couple divorced in June 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/gma-lara-spencer-finalizes-divorce|title=GMA's Lara Spencer Finalizes Divorce|website=PEOPLE.com|access-date=2016-06-04}}

In 2014, Spencer was named grand marshal at Penn State's homecoming.

In 2017, she hosted the limited series People Icons.{{cite web|url=http://people.com/tv/people-icons-abc-news-series-inspired-iconic-people-covers-lara-spencer-host/|title=From Will and Kate to Sexiest Man Alive: Lara Spencer to Host New Series Inspired by Iconic PEOPLE Covers|first= Aurelie |last= Corinthios|date=14 February 2017|access-date=12 March 2017}}

Spencer announced in January 2018{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/good-morning-america-host-lara-spencer-engaged-rick-mcvey-article-1.3740237|title='Good Morning America' host Lara Spencer engaged to Rick McVey|work=NY Daily News|access-date=2018-01-06|language=en}} that she was engaged to New York tech entrepreneur Richard McVey. Spencer first met McVey after a mutual friend set them up on a blind date. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of MarketAxess, a publicly traded financial technology company. On September 1, 2018, Spencer and McVey married in an outdoor ceremony in Vail, Colorado.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/lara-spencer-is-married-good-morning-america-co-host-ties-the-knot-in-vail/ar-BBMKCGL|title=Lara Spencer is Married! Good Morning America Co-Host Ties the Knot in Vail|website=www.msn.com|access-date=2018-09-03}}

In 2018, People announced Spencer’s plans to leave her job as one of the co-anchors on Good Morning America to focus on her production company, DuffKat Media, and work on Good Morning America from behind the scenes in a lesser capacity.{{Cite web|title=Lara Spencer Is Cutting Back Good Morning America Role to Focus on Lifestyle Brand: Source|url=https://people.com/tv/lara-spencer-cutting-back-gma-lifestyle-brand/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=PEOPLE.com|language=EN}}

In 2019, Spencer was the guest picker on College GameDay for the Michigan vs. Penn State game.{{Cite web|title=Lee Corso's headgear pick for Michigan vs. Penn State with Lara Spencer - College GameDay|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a-mIjODJAw|access-date=2021-12-05|website=YouTube.com|language=EN}}

=Television producer=

Spencer was the creator and executive producer of the prime time game show, It's Worth What?, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, which aired during the summer of 2011 on NBC.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/s-worth-what-nbc-sets-196284|title='It's Worth What?': NBC Sets Premiere Date|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 8, 2011|access-date=June 6, 2014}} She created and produced two television shows based on her passions for interior designing, a one-hour special titled I Brake for Yard Sales that originally aired in April 2012 on HGTV and a flea market-themed series currently airing on Great American Country called Flea Market Flip.{{cite web|url=http://popstyle.ew.com/2012/09/28/flea-market-flip-lara-spencer-on-her-new-hgtv-show-and-her-top-4-treasure-hunting-tips/|title='Flea Market Flip': Lara Spencer on her new HGTV show and her top 4 treasure-hunting tips|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 28, 2012|access-date=June 6, 2014}}

=Other work=

Spencer's first book, I Brake for Yard Sales, a guide on how to create high-end looking rooms using secondhand finds, was published and released in April 2012.{{cite book | last=Spencer | first=Lara | title=I Brake for Yard Sales | publisher=Stewart, Tabori & Chang | publication-place=New York | date=2011 | isbn=978-1-58479-922-1 | oclc=700735587}}

She replaced Brooke Burke-Charvet and co-hosted the 87th Miss America pageant at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey with Chris Harrison on September 15, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/chris-harrison-lara-spencer-to-host-miss-america-2014-034817578.html|title=Chris Harrison, Lara Spencer to Host Miss America 2014|date=May 20, 2013|work=ABC News|access-date=May 9, 2014}} She and Harrison co-hosted Miss America 2015 on September 14, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/08/miss_america_2015_judges.html

|title=Miss America 2015: Judges include N.J.'s Gary Vaynerchuk|access-date=November 1, 2014|last=Kuperinsky|first=Amy|date=August 14, 2014|publisher= The Star-Ledger }}

Spencer's second book, titled Flea Market Fabulous: Designing Gorgeous Rooms with Vintage Treasures, a guide on designing rooms and homes, was published and released on September 16, 2014.{{cite book | last1=Spencer | first1=Lara | last2=Feezor | first2=Amy | last3=Adler | first3=Jonathan | last4=Ubiña | first4=ChiChi | title=Flea Market Fabulous: Designing Gorgeous Rooms with Vintage Treasures | publisher = Stewart, Tabori and Chang | publication-place=New York | date=2014 | isbn=978-1-61769-095-2 | oclc=858845655}}

Controversy

In August 2019, Spencer's comments about six-year-old Prince George of Cambridge enjoying ballet classes (among other hobbies) were interpreted by some as offensive, causing public backlash.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aol.com/article/entertainment/2019/08/23/gma-anchor-lara-spencer-accused-of-bullying-prince-george-for-liking-ballet/23800234/|title='GMA' anchor Lara Spencer accused of 'bullying' Prince George for liking ballet: 'Despicable'|author=A. O. L. Staff|website=AOL.com|date=23 August 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/654255586/posts/10162091986145587? |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/654255586/10162091986145587 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Defending Dance |last=Ohmer|first=S.|website=Facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-23}}{{cbignore}} Spencer issued an Instagram apology, saying, "I fully believe we should all be free to pursue our passions"{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/lara-spencer-apologizes-mocking-prince-173644965.html|title=Lara Spencer Apologizes for Mocking Prince George's Ballet Lessons on GMA|last=Swift|first=Andy|date=August 23, 2019|website=Yahoo Entertainment}}{{cite web |url=https://people.com/tv/lara-spencer-apologizes-mocking-prince-george-ballet/|last=Todisco |first=Eric |title=Lara Spencer Apologizes for 'Insensitive Comment' About Prince George's Ballet Lessons on GMA|date=August 23, 2019|work=People}} and apologized on Good Morning America during an interview with three professional male dancers.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/26/entertainment/lara-spencer-gma-apology-trnd/index.html|title=Lara Spencer, 'Good Morning America' co-anchor, apologizes for mocking Prince George's interest in ballet|first1=Lisa Respers|last1=France|first2=Marianne|last2=Garvey|work=CNN|date=August 26, 2019|access-date=August 26, 2019}}