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

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.

I'd never seen Jim Gardner lose it on air. It brings an element of his humanity he held back to remain professional during the losses of WPVI talent over the last 10 years or so. I don't know how I would handle this same reaction live after 30 years of watching him. For those commenting on how well spoken the newscasters are, both Jim and Vernon Odom are still bedrocks of ABC 6 in the Philly area.

Wow. I remember this broadcast so clearly. Seeing Jim Gardner break down like that was so emotional. Crazy how wrapped up you can get (or used to get, anyway) with the local news team. That was one special news team, and Jim O'Brien was a huge part of it.

When Gardner recounts his intense professionalism and talent he is so correct. In today's era of cable news and "Infotainment" Jim would have been a superstar. At one time, he hosted a 5:30 am to 9 am radio show on WFIL, then Dialing for Dollars from 10-11 am on channel 6, anchored the 5:30 news broadcast and did the weather on the 6 and 11 pm broadcasts. He was an amazing professional and there was NOBODY bigger in Philadelphia than he was.

I finally got up enough nerve last year to skydive outside Palm Springs, CA. Never thought I would do it but at 65 years old, why not. As the jump plane was climbing to 12,000 feet for the jump, I thought of Jim O'Brien and the courage it took cutting away knowing he would die, but saving his friend's life.

WOW! Do I remember this, He was such a nice man. Jim lived right behind us in gladwyne when this happened. My father and him were buddies. My father now passed away, Helped him with his passion on his gardening work on his property. I remember them getting along so well and it was a tragic loss to him. I was about 18 or so then and now I am 48. This is how life is a very fast ride. So enjoy and treat people nice.

33 years later I still sob as if it happened today

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.

I was 18 years old and remember this like yesterday. I was so stunned I sat down and cried. He was a great and funny anchorman. Him and Jim Gardner were really good together as a team. The old school anchors were the best!

Nobody delivered the news and weather like Jim O'Brien...In the short tenure he was here, he certainly made an imprint in Philadelphia... After all these years he's been gone, he's still talked about and revered.... Legend

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.

I was just sitting here pulling some different things up and i thought, I want to see what some of my local news anchors looked like years ago, and then up pops this one about Jim O'brien passing. It has been 32 years since the passing and when i pulled that little segment up from action news and played it, the one announcing his death, I started to cry. I remember as a 19 year old kid, I couldn't wait to see him do the weather because he was so funny. 32 years later, here i am at 50 years old and it brought a tear to my eye. I guess it just shows that natural ability he had to draw you in, you couldn't help but like him. what a talent he was and how easily those who listened to him became an instant fan. He would have still been sitting there right next to Jim Gardner. I can't help but think, If he could leave such an indelible impression on a guy like me, just a fan, Imagine the impact he must of had on those who were fortunate enough to know him.

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

Thank you for posting this. I have an autographed picture Jim O'Brien sent when I wrote to him earlier that year. Hard to believe it's been almost 30 years ago.

I also remember this sad sad day, I was 19 yrs old, and I had to deliver the news to my mom, She was Devastated!! She loved him so much, our whole family did, he was someone special, We watched action news just to see jim do the weather and put in his funny comments, he was awesome, I love you Jim,!!!! RIP❤️❤️🌷🌻

I was 11 years old when this happened. He was my Mom and Dad’s favorite news anchor, he always made them laugh. My dad had just taken me to meet him as he handed out autographs at a motorcycle shop in West Chester. I’ll never forget being in Veteran’s Stadium with my Uncle for the Eagles game with the St. Louis Cardinals, when the pa announcer announced to the crowd that Jim passed away in a parachuting accident. They put Jim’s picture on the big screen and I can remember a hush coming over the crowd as people were in shock. The entire stadium became eerily silent and then people around us started to cry. That’s a moment I’ll never ever forget.

Jim O' Brien was a personal friend of mine, never forgot this day thats nearly 30 years ago now, to the people on youtube who joke about this tragedy who likely didn't now him and may have not even been born when this happened I say do the letters F O mean anything to you!!!

I remember hearing about Jim’s death when I was listening to Sunny 104 and painting a Purple Martin birdhouse outside. My mom was talking to my grandmother on the phone and I ran in and yelled upstairs. We had a long cord on the phone so Mom opened the door and I told her what happened. My dad had been out fishing that day and he was stunned when we told him what happened. We had steak, baked potatoes and corn on the cob that night and that was the only time I didn’t feel like eating that meal. We all felt miserable because Jim O’Brien seemed like a family member. Hard to believe he would have been 80 this year!

So upsetting back then, and upsetting even now! I remember my mom telling me how Jim O'Brien and Jim Gardner were buddies on and off the air.

Unbelievable still. Jim Gardner is our modern day John Facenda and Walter Cronkite, our dean of news here in the Philadelphia area. In over forty years of watching, this is the only time I ever remember him breaking. O’Brien and Gardner were really close. I remember he could make Jim laugh on air like no other. Even the KYW and WCAU newscasts recognized O’Brien as the biggest news personality of that time. And Channel 6 Action News is STILL a juggernaut to this day in the Philly area. Jim O’Brien is still missed by many of us who watched him daily...he was great.

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.

I was 8 years old when this happened. I live in Delaware, and I remember we were all sitting in front of the TV watching this. The whole block was talking about it for days.

I remember this day. I was 16 years old. My family always watched Action News. We sat around in shock at the news of Jim O'Brien's death. When Jim Gardner broke down, my mom and I sobbed.

I was born in 1990. One thing I always remember from my childhood was watching Jim Gardner bring me the news. I asked my mother who Jim O'Brien was and she immediately had tears in her eyes but she sat down and told me about him. Seeing this clip and some others of his weather forecasts shows me what influence he had over the Delaware valley. I wish I could've had the chance to meet him........

I will always remember Jim O'Brien . He Helped me one time bring a news story to the news room in the old round Channel 6 building . He stood by and watched me perform at the Sixer's world championship celebration in 1983 at Vet Stadium . I performed my song "We Love The Sixer's " in Rocky Balboa's boxer's Ring from the movie. I will always remember how he stood right in front of me and looked intensely into my eyes . I focused on him during the performance almost like it was just for him.God rest your soul Jim O'Brien you are a good man.

I vividly remember this news broadcast. We were at my grandparents house for dinner and we were all stunned and saddened.

The anchors handled this beautifully. Sad story still, all these years later. RIP Jim.

My family watched Action News for the whole cast... but Jim really made it something else.

I don't know how I got here. I'm from San Diego and don't know these people, but was very moved by Mr. Gardner's farewell and his poise. We had a few untimely newsperson deaths here too in the early eighties that really rattled me as a child, as I'm sure this did to the fine people of Philadelphia.

I always remember him saying "Back to you Jimbo" to Jim Gardner when he was done with his weather forecast. He was the best!

I remember this. In Philadelphia, this was a devastating event. Even for people who did not know Jim O'Brien personally and only through the TV, he felt like a friend. This was a bad day.

This still brings tears to my eyes knowing how close Jim was with him...the mention of Gary Papa brings even more tears to my eyes...Jim Gardner has had his share of grief....

I was 14 I remember watching this live. Cried my eyes out. RIP Jim. Philly is honored to have you as an angel looking over us.

I remember when that happened... Jim was so funny- he is still sadly missed... RIP bro!

Loved Jim O'Brien, he was the best!

I was just a kid when this happened, but I cried like a baby hearing of his death. He was in our homes everyday, like an extended family member and is still missed to this day.

I remember watching his show Prime Time, still know the theme song. Jim O'Brien will always be missed. R.I.P.

thanks for posting this

I grew up in the Philly region. Was a first semester freshman at college when my mother sent me news of O'Brien's death. Easily the worst news for years to come, he was such an easy listen and relatable on air personna. Strange that local news casts, local papers, and so on do not seem have the same weight as they used to. Everything is so, 'national', these days for lack of better words. People seem to have more of a connection with personalities who never even stepped foot in their state than folks who have grown up one neighborhood over. Good or bad? You decide. I kind of like to think back when the whole world's problems weren't thrown in my face every morning. Miss you Jim!

i was only 17 yrs old when he passed away I'll always remember him he was n still my favorite news caster rip jim

Don't know how it is now with Philadelphia news shows, but back then, the city was almost evenly split between all three local news shows, but we all knew who was who on the "other" shows even if we were "an Action News" house or whatever. Jim O'Brien was very popular, and the whole city was affected by his death at the time. He had been a disc jockey on WFIL radio before doing the weather on WPVI (these were "sister" stations, if you didn't know); he was part of my youth before going on TV.

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.

I remember Jim so sad we lost him he had a good sense of humor I’ll never forget the day ❤❤❤

Wow, I recall this day very well, was with my mom inside a 7-11 and we saw a few people crying. When we were told what happened, my mom brokedown. I saw this newscast vividly remembering Jim crying, very understandable. I was a kid at the time, but Jim O' Brien was a very memorable reporter/weatherman. He would always report the temp in some town in Arizona, New Mexico (Anyone remember? I forget the name). Huge loss for Philly, also brings back memories of June '09 when Gary passed away.

Everyone who grew up in Philly remembers where they were when the news broke

I was at my girlfriend's house in Mount Airy when I heard of Jim O'Brien's death on the radio. I was to start my Sunday shift at the Courier-Post in NJ. So I swung by Channel 6 on City Line and spoke to his colleagues for my story for the next day's paper. They included Jim Gardner, Vernon Odom and even Howard Eskin, who once worked with O'Brien on the radio. It was surreal.

my grammy and pappy live right across the road from where it happened and i've been told on so many occasions how horribly sad this day was. I think there should be a memorial for him at the site, even if the airport is no longer there.

If there ever was a rock star newscaster it was Jim. This was back before cable, and every - and I mean every - household put on the local news late afternoon. And on my NE Philly Block 90% of us watched channel 6. This may just the lead in, or the 11 pm broadcast, but the actual complete late afternoon broadcast might be the saddest thing I ever saw. The broadcasters were weeping and fighting back tears the entire time trying to deliver the news. Anyone who saw it knows what I mean.

We moved to the Poconos in 1970, but our dad made sure our antenna tower was higher than the tops of the trees so we could watch the Philly T.V. stations. Like anyone who was aware of Jim O'Brien, my family was crushed to learn of his death. He, Gardner and Tollefson made the eleven o'clock news must see T.V.

I remember running into him when I was about 20 in 1980 and his car was parked about 10 down from mine. I didn't know him, only from the news and I said. "Hey Jim" and he responded, "Hey" it was funny then, he was so bubbly and full of life, what an asset he was as a weatherman, no one has even come close to him to this day. RIP Jim, we still miss you!!!!

I am impressed with much more well-spoken news anchors were 30 years ago.

Some of us still do shed tears...

still chokes me up....really

One of those two daughters they mention is Perri Gilpin, who played Frasier Crane's radio producer on the Frasier sitcom.

I remember iT like yesterday R.I.P

Chris Wagner spoke of his 2 daughters, one of whom is Peri Gilpin who played Roz on Frasier.

I was nine years old when he died. I'll never forget it.

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

I didn't know that "Roz" from TV's FRAZIER was his daughter. Peri Gilpin.

Now living in deep south. I'll never forget Jim O'Brien growing up near Philly. Loved that man...he was truly one-of-a-kind.

I can still remember this like it was only yesterday. The day after this tragedy, at where I was working then, many of my coworkers did not come in to work that day. Those of us that did go in assumed that they were all probably too upset about this to come in. Some today probably wonder, or assume that if Jim O'Brien were still with us, that he would probably be retired by now.

i was fortunate enough to meet him, i have a picture of us i was young about 8 or 9 he was diving here in Jersey. what a groovy guy. RIP

I was 11 when this happened. I'll never further Jim playing donkey baseball in Folcroft. I cried again watching this

R.I.P Gary Papa

I remember watching this. RIP Jim.

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.

Remeber this like it was yesterday. Rest in peace.

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

My Gran & I just sat & cried. Watching Jim Gardner broke me up

The noon broadcast was even more intense. Chris Wagner was very weepy and Lisa Thomas Laury couldn't even talk at some points as I recall...

I was a kid most of the time when I watched Jim O'Brien and he was funnier than hell. He did the weather, a blase subject, but did some hilarious stuff with it to make it amusing. We were all quite shocked when he passed away. I was a sophomore in college then. Jim was from Texas but soon became part of the Philly gang.

So sad, Jim was awesome!! News people of today don't hold a handle to Jim!!

I remember the day that it happened. I was in Navy Boot Camp in Orlando when I made a call home and my mom told me about it. He was a great weather man and good person. I actually cried when I heard the news. It was like I knew him personally. it was a sad day.

Does anybody remember the Channel 6 crew hiding Jim's weather cloud? It was so funny, they wouldn't tell him where it was or give it back!! So funny!!

I remember after a Greengrocer segment on zucchini, the camera cut back to Jim O, and he said: ‘Batteries Not Included’…! OMG we were dying because this was 1981, and local news, much less national news, would never allow that. RIP Jim O.

I was only 15 when Jim O'Birien died. It was an awful shock to everyone I knew. I usually watched him and always smiled.

Jim O'Brien was such a great personality, he made watching the newscast fun.

I remember this broadcast when it aired live. Very shocking news, and such a premature death. I don't think skydiving is worth the risk. Parachutes can fail to open, no matter how many jumps one has under their belt.

I remember Jim. He was funny with the weather every night!

This was on my daughter's first birthday. When I walked into my Gran's house to find her crying, I knew something terrible had happened. When I inquired, she simply pointed to the TV. I joined her in tears. My poor daughter was so confused.

No one could make weather as fun as Jim OBrien

I was 12 years old when Jim O’Brien died and it felt like losing a family member. The news wasn’t complete in our household until we saw his weather forecast.

Jim was crying his head off during the 5pm report, i believe. He regained his composure & went on with the 6pm one.

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

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.

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

I didn't see this original broadcast, but I sure remember Jim. He was a true professional, just like he was on the radio. He joined the "Boss Jocks" on WFIL in 1970, and used to be their morning dj. Those were the days. R.I.P. Jim!

Rest in Peace, Our Friend. ❤ So many still remember, and are so thankful for you kind words, and uplifting perspective. Met him a few times while eating breakfast in Limerick, PA - out for his weekend skydiving adventure! Blessings to All who still remember Jim. 🙏🏻⭐️🫡

One of the best Jim O'Brien stories I remember was when John Lennon was doing the weather back in the seventies. Almost 40 years ago and still seems like yesterday. Who can forget Dialing for Dollars with Connie Rousin and Jim.

@Forrest Jasper I recall Jim Gardner crying really really bad. I was only a kid when that happened but I can not forget it. That day is my birthday and the funniest weather man I watched daily was now gone. My household was silent that day and I knew why I just could not believe it. He actually made me watch the news b/c he was so funny.

still heart wrenching

I was a junior in high school and I remember this like it was yesterday. It broke my heart. And I didn’t know he was dad of the lady who played Roz on Frazier.

This was carried on the other two Philadelphia local news channels also as lead story back then.

Hi there everyone today is Day and Year 11/10/2016 and let me tell you that I was over my grandmother house staying there and everyday I watch the channel 6 action news and let me tell you that I personally was emotionally hurting over the lost of Jim I watched Y'all for years and life is crazy you have to make the best of Of it every moment of your life because when that time comes it's all over but at least you made your very best out of it I'm sure that in the years he lived he made the best if it he was so funny you ALL was so funny seeing you all working together made my Day but I am residing in new York city and I can truly say that I missed you guys I was going through my RU-vid and decided to go to the website of that particular news report because I wanted to remember him and seeing some of his weather moments just so I can see him and all of you guys again together may his soul rest in peace God bless you Jim O'Brien we will all miss you and I personally will miss all you guys in that cast Philly was and always will be my first Home Town But like I said I am now residing in new York city again GOD bless you all and have a great day weekend and hope to see you soon one day Peace.

Woww it’s unbelievable to think what has happened to JiMBO he was and still will be an incredible inspirational hilarious weather man I Live in NYC and I was just thinking about JIM just to see him once again it’s so sad to even think about him losing his life may god bless him in every way may his soul Rest In Peace your the best JiMBO

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

Jim and Vern 2 legends of broadcasting.

After this I didn't even care about the Phillies winning the division.

We had a similar loss where I live in South Carolina close to 5 years ago-- next year will be 5 years ago: Mike McCormick and Aaron Smeltzer of WYFF 4 (Mike was the reporter, Aaron the photographer) were covering a heavy rain storm in North Carolina, and were going up U.S. 176 in the Tryon area (as I understand it), when a tree fell and crushed their SUV, and crushed both to death (both were 36, IIRC). There was so much rain that the tree could not stay in the ground any longer, and it fell-- when you have that much rain, it's bound to happen.

Two years before I born and I've heard a lot about Jim O'Brien even after I was born