Bio
Mark Steines is an American broadcast journalist and host of the syndicated gossip and entertainment round-up program Entertainment Tonight, since 2004. He joined the show on 24 August, 1995.
Steines has covered numerous significant entertainment events, including the shocking death of John Travolta's son, Jett, in the Bahamas and the death of Michael Jackson.
Additionally, Steines enjoyed a historic interview with Oprah Winfrey, Tina Turner and Cher together in Las Vegas, and he became the first journalist to interview Charlie Sheen after the birth of his twin sons.
In 2006, Steines had the special distinction of being the only journalist from any media to interview Anna Nicole Smith after the untimely death of her son Daniel. He was also the last journalist to interview Anna Nicole, just a week before her sudden death in February 2007.
He appeared on numerous prestigious news programs, such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show and CNN's Larry King Live to give ET's take on her turbulent life and sudden death.
Also in 2006, Steines hosted the Mark Burnett-produced Internet game show Gold Rush, which tested players on their pop culture knowledge. The finale aired on ET, where Steines awarded the winner $1-million in gold.
Steines was the editorial voice for a series of VH1 specials, including Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Greatest TV Rock 'n Roll Moments, The 25 Sexiest, Greatest Grammy Moments and Hot Couples. During the 2001–02 season, he also had a guest-starring role as himself on The Practice.
Born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa, Steines attended the University of Northern Iowa on a full football scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio and Television.
His first job was at KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa, where he rose from intern to sports reporter, then to reporter and photographer. He soon moved to KSPR-TV in Springfield, Missouri, where he served as sports anchor from 1988 to 1991.
That experience led him to KCAL-TV in Los Angeles, where his sports reporting garnered him the exposure that brought assignments for ESPN and ultimately a post on Entertainment Tonight.
In 1994, Steines was awarded an Emmy and a Golden Mic Award for the KCAL special, Beyond Endurance – Madagascar. The following year, he received his second Emmy for Beyond Endurance – Borneo.
He married former Entertainment Tonight correspondent and Miss America 1993 Leanza Cornett on the island of Kauai on 22 July, 1995. They have two sons, Kai Harper and Avery James ("AJ").