Leslie Sykes
| Leslie Ann Sykes | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 27, 1965 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Residence | View Park, Los Angeles, California |
| Alma mater | Spelman College |
| Occupation | News Anchor |
| Employer | KABC-TV, Channel 7 |
| Spouse(s) | Patrick W. Spann |
| Children | 1 child |
Leslie Ann Sykes (born June 27, 1965 in San Diego, California) is a television news anchor and reporter.
Biography
Leslie Sykes is the morning and midday co-anchor of the "Eyewitness News" at KABC-TV, ABC's owned and operated television station in Los Angeles.
Leslie Ann Sykes was born in San Diego, California as the youngest of three children. However, she grew up in Compton, California, where her father Abel B. Sykes, Jr. worked as an administrator for Compton Community College. Leslie attended St. Joseph High School and then went to Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia where she majored in English. While there, she appeared as "Miss Mission" in Spike Lee's 1988 film, School Daze.
Upon graduation, Leslie began her professional career as a journalist. One of her first jobs was as a general assignment reporter at the now defunct Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. An internship followed at local independent television station (now My Network TV affiliate) KCOP-TV. This led to a desk assistant position in the news department at Fox affiliate KTTV.
Leslie's big break came when she landed her first on-air job in Hattiesburg, Mississippi at WDAM-TV. Not only did she serve as a reporter, she anchored three shows a day and produced a newscast. From there she received her first major market assignment at WVUE-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana. In December 1994, Leslie returned to Los Angeles as a general assignment reporter for KABC-TV's "Eyewitness News" program.
In late 1998, Sykes was wooed by WBBM-TV in Chicago to become its new top female weekend anchor, replacing Sarah Lucero. However, a December 3, 1998 article in the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Sykes opted "to stay put in L.A."
In June 1999, Leslie was promoted to co-anchor the weekend edition of the "Eyewitness News". In 2009 was promoted again to co-anchor of the 11am-Noon and then joined the team on "Eyewitness News This Morning" as well.
Personal life
Leslie is married to Patrick W. Spann. They have a young son and currently live in the View Park-Windsor Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.