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Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Bill Kurtis

Bill Kurtis

Keynote Speaker: Peabody & Emmy Award-Winning Journalist, Producer & Narrator; Host of A&E's "Investigative Reports," "American Justice" & "Cold Case Files"; Founder, Kurtis Productions

Bill Kurtis Biography

Bill Kurtis is a journalist, television host, producer, and narrator recognized for his sonorous voice and his significant contributions to broadcast journalism. Kurtis began his career in the 1960s as a reporter for WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas. His career in broadcast news took off when he provided on-the-scene coverage of a tornado outbreak in Topeka in 1966, a broadcast that set the stage for his distinguished career.

Following his start at WIBW-TV, Kurtis joined WBBM-TV in Chicago, where he co-anchored the 10 p.m. newscast and became a trusted and respected anchor. During his 30-year tenure at CBS, he covered major stories such as the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the Robert F. Kennedy shooting, and the Chicago Seven conspiracy trial, earning him numerous accolades, including two Peabody Awards, several Emmy Awards, awards from the Overseas Press Club, and a DuPont Award. He has also been inducted into both the Illinois and Kansas Halls of Fame.

Apart from his news career, Kurtis established a prominent presence in documentary television after forming his own production company, Kurtis Productions. He produced and narrated nearly 1,000 documentaries, including series like "Investigative Reports," "American Justice," and "Cold Case Files," which aired on A&E. One of his notable achievements was the acquisition of a videotape showing Richard Speck, which led to significant changes in the Illinois penal system. He also narrated the documentary film "Carbon Nation" and lent his voice to "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and its sequel. His distinctive voice and engaging storytelling style have earned him a prominent role in various other television and radio projects, including National Public Radio (NPR)'s news comedy/quiz show "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" and the host of "Through the Decades," a documentary-style news magazine on Decades (now Catchy Comedy).

Further to his success in broadcasting, Kurtis is interested in environmental causes and sustainable agriculture. He founded the Tallgrass Beef Company, raising and distributing grass-fed, hormone-free organic beef. His other commitments include authoring books like "On Assignment," "Death Penalty on Trial," and "Prairie Table Cookbook." Kurtis also contributed a spoken-word introduction to The Dandy Warhols' album "Odditorium or Warlords of Mars" and recorded descriptions and meditations for the interactive pathway of the Shrine of Christ's Passion.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Bill Kurtis and other top speakers and celebrities.

Bill Kurtis Videos

Bill Kurtis & Cold Case Files
An Introduction to Tallgrass Beef by Bill Curtis - YouTube
Bill Kurtis: Renowned Journalist, TV Host, Keynote Speaker ...

How do I book Bill Kurtis to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Bill Kurtis for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Bill Kurtis, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Bill Kurtis or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Bill Kurtis for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Bill Kurtis, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $20,000 - $30,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Bill Kurtis, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Bill Kurtis speak about?

Bill Kurtis is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as News & Media, Environment, Host & Emcee, Television & Film, Health, Sustainability, Literary, Motivational, Broadcasting and Political.

Where does Bill Kurtis travel from?

Bill Kurtis generally travels from Mettawa, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Bill Kurtis?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Bill Kurtis for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Bill Kurtis for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Bill Kurtis or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Bill Kurtis is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including News & Media, Environment and Host & Emcee. The estimated speaking fee range to book Bill Kurtis for live events is $20,000 - $30,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Bill Kurtis generally travels from Mettawa, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Calvin Trillin, Linda Ellerbee and Bob Costas. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Bill Kurtis for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/09/2024.

Bill Kurtis Videos

Bill Kurtis & Cold Case Files
An Introduction to Tallgrass Beef by Bill Curtis - YouTube
Bill Kurtis: Renowned Journalist, TV Host, Keynote Speaker ...
Bill Kurtis Interview | Journalist | Documentarian-p1 of 6 - YouTube

Bill Kurtis Reviews

  • Bill Kurtis was great, and everyone who had a chance to meet him had nothing but wonderful things to say about him. We really appreciate his engagement with our representatives prior to the beginning of Commencement. In regards to his speech, there were many positives - his talk was a good combination of sharing his personal passion and connecting those items with our graduates; he used a motivational style and tone; and he shared some knowledge of the college, making it more personal for the audience. The only negative is that he went a few minutes in length beyond our expectation. Overall it was a great experience and we are so glad we were able to have Bill Kurtis as our commencement speaker. Thank you and your team for all of your help in this process!
    Rockford College - May 23 2013

Bill Kurtis News

  • How do I book Bill Kurtis to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Bill Kurtis for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Bill Kurtis, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Bill Kurtis or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Bill Kurtis for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Bill Kurtis, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $20,000 - $30,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Bill Kurtis, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Bill Kurtis speak about?

    Bill Kurtis is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as News & Media, Environment, Host & Emcee, Television & Film, Health, Sustainability, Literary, Motivational, Broadcasting and Political.
  • Where does Bill Kurtis travel from?

    Bill Kurtis generally travels from Mettawa, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Bill Kurtis?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Bill Kurtis for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Bill Kurtis for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Bill Kurtis or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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BILL KURTIS

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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.