Death of Channel 6's Jim O'Brien - 9/25/83 6 PM Report

[juzzduckee2]

I remember this....it was sad.

[JubeProductions]

i bet Jim Gardner had a few stiff ones after that newscast. reminds me of Anchorman, what a pro.

[burkzzy]

I remember driving home with my mom mom from the eagles vs cardinals game that day . I was 9 years old. I used to imitate him with the wand. My parents still remind me of when I "portrayed" him at home. Dearly missed

[NReds]

No one could make weather as fun as Jim OBrien

[600joe]

This was the lead on all three Philadelphia TV stations that day.

[printesswellsyahoo]

I was 12 years old when then tragedy happened. Even when I was a child I didn't care much about the news that was going on, I waited at 11:00 PM to see the late Jim O'Brien. In 1988, in highschool, we had to do a "mock" exercise, it was 3 groups of teens who had to be newscasters. I had volunteered to do the weather, I took what I saw from Mr. O'Brien and did my "weather" segment, I actually make a prop with cut out cardboard and pieces of clouds, the sun and thunderstorms. Thank you Jim.

[JohnK086]

This marks a rare weekend appearance by Jim Gardner at the Action News anchor desk, using the chair that then-weekend sports anchor Gary Papa would use later in the show. Ironically, Gary's chair (obviously a newer one) was left empty at the anchor desk on June 19, 2009 to honor his memory.

[hssfan]

Isn't one of O'Brien's two daughters Peri Gilpin (Roz of Fraiser)?

[superbuick]

@hssfan That is correct.

[3b1d5c]

I remember this real well. I was 8. My parents loved him so I remeber his weather forecasts.

[boycotthell71]

Wow, we talked about this in school..Jim O'Brien was a great reporter, great memories! Rest in Peace!! from a former paratrooper at 82nd Airborne Div

[THEbchat]

Thank you for posting this. I'm actually surprised that anyone had this on tape. I remember watching this when it happened and my entire family was shocked beyond words.

[gibby100]

lol, nice shorts on that dude in the video at 1:29

[bababooey2006]

Remember that day well... Crazy.

[mbeth3000]

the game at WPVI are troopers! That was a very very difficult day. Their professionalism showed through. I remember meeting Jim O'Brien in Cherry Hill, NJ at a Gings Berg & Wong Chinese Food Restaurant. He was so personable and made everyone smile. I miss his broadcasting style. And to think we lost two broadcasters that year...RIP Jessica Savitch just a month later.

[spamhogs]

Wow. What a flashback. I jumped with Jim and remember with sickening clarity that day. It took a long time for things to feel right at the club again.

[girlmusic2remember]

I was born back there, but hadn't made it back since 1982.  I remember Jim as a deejay on the radio. I remember him, Larry Kane and Joe Pelligrino on the Channel 6 newscast. They got along and kidded around splendidly. I was sent the articles out of the newspapers back there, but this is the first time I've seen the actual newscast. Thank you for posting this. RIP, Jim.

[mrmoore1970]

Jim Gardner handled this broadcast like the professional that he is. When he started to get choked up over Jim O'Brien's passing, he immediately passed the news over to Chris Wagner without missing a beat. This is why WPVI-TV Channel 6 Action News (6ABC) will always be my favorite news to watch.

[LorraineinFL]

I absoltely loved Jim O'Brien.  Thanks so much for posting this. He was absolutely terrific! I really loved him ad still do.

[LorraineinFL]

Thanks so much for posting this. The saddest days for anyone from Phila were when Jim O'Brien and Dr. Shock passed away. They were so loved.

[clubfootforyou]

Chris Wagner, cold as Ice

[MisterB2eternity]

I remember where I was that. I was a 9 year old riding my bike on City Line Avenue near Gino's Restaurant on 54th. I saw an old lady crying and I asked her what was wrong she said "Jim O'Brien from Channel 6 died in a parachute accident." Those nine words stung me. I rode home fast as I could and asked my mother if it was true she said yes and we saw this newscast and then we heard on KYW News Radio and I remember crying that Sunday night. I felt like I lost my best friend but I didn't know him.

[MyBetty111]

The station told Jim NOT to skydive. They were against it. Some at the station say it was suicide.

[JP5466]

Gardner is a PRO!

[mermaidofsuburbia]

I looked for this video after just watching an episode of Frasier and marveling at how much Peri Gilpin looks like her father.

I still remember where I was when I heard the news. I was in the Marianne shop buying my junior prom dress when the news came over the radio station in the store. The entire store gasped and started crying. Such a great man.

[arianaalioth]

Chris Wagner! I remember her...wonder whatever happened to her.

[blesyk]

Thank you for posting this and keeping his memory alive. I was less than 10 years old when this happened, but I still remember it. He is still very much missed.

[lanikaibabe]

Oh man; I remember this. I was 18 years old; working in my family's restaurant when we heard word of Jim O'Brien's death. I remember this newcast and crying when Jim Gardner started to cry.

[TrainSounds]

Gary Papa also died not to long ago.

[pvstreaker187]

my dads driveway was in the middle of the runway, we had our own business called bed and board kennels, but THP bought all of our land and the skydiving land a few years back, i grew up in the field that he landed in from 1992-2004 and there were always fresh flowers where he landed, so he must of been special. Its a shame that there planning to build 350 single homes on top of my old land, the skydiving land and where jim fell. il never forget that old farmhouse and our pond and the skydivers

[zattss]

I was in my back yard working on my engine and i herd of this on the radio. It was shocking, i said did he say what i think he said?. My heart fell. He was one of a kind. Yes he will be missed as well as Gary.

[pjvalisnochannel]

this breaking news segment:is an emotional shocking news on 1983 while in 2008 or 2009 gary papas passing we missed both R.I.P

[nanlisa]

I was in L.A. when this happened. My mother called me up at twenty minutes to 7 the next morning (L.A. time) and told me this.

[BruTube]

Thanks for posting this video in light of the passing of Gary Papa. Never thought I'd get a chance to see the Jim O'Brien videos, and I'm grateful to have had the chance. Thanks man.

[elzebub007]

I grew up watching Action News, I remember this like it was yesterday, I have never seen a news team that had such a great chemistry as this team did, and Jim was such a funny guy, I remember seeing a poll at the time that Action News had a 75% market share. If you wanted the best local news in Philly, you watched Action News.

[futurekawai]

I remember watching this. RIP Jim.

[buglak]

thank you very much