Meredith Vieira Has Cared for Her Husband, Whose Vision Was Affected by MS, for Over 35 Years

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Meredith Vieira Has Cared for Her Husband, Whose Vision Was Affected by MS, for Over 35 Years

  • Meredith Vieira, the accomplished broadcaster, expresses immense gratitude for her family despite facing challenges.
  • Married to Richard Cohen for 37 years, who battles multiple sclerosis and other health issues, Vieira emphasizes the importance of laughter, family support, and finding strength amidst adversities.
  • Vieira also feels blessed, cherishes her grown children, and prioritizes family over career.
Meredith Vieira in New York City on June 1, 1991. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira in New York City on June 1, 1991. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira is a phenomenal broadcaster, who in 2005 became the second woman to win a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host as the host of 2002’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

Vieira was also a TV host for “The View,” which she exited in June 2006. The journalist hosted the “Today” show for five years and left in 2011. Aside from her , the broadcaster has been married for decades. She married Richard Cohen on June 14, 1986.

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen during the New York City Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society 27th Dinner of Champions Honors Teri Garr in New York City on October 15, 2003. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen during the New York City Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society 27th Dinner of Champions Honors Teri Garr in New York City on October 15, 2003. | Source: Getty Images

Vieira and her husband, blessed with three children, Ben, Gabe, and Lily, have shared an intense and incredible life since they met. The duo first met in 1983, thanks to their passion for journalism.

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen attend the Andy Rooney Memorial at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on January 12, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen attend the Andy Rooney Memorial at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on January 12, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

Vieira and Cohen were working for different bureaus of CBS. When they met, they went toe to toe from the start, with Cohen armed with while Vieira was smitten. Still, she had some strong opinions about him.

Meredith Viera and Richard Cohen attend "Jesus Christ Superstar" Broadway opening night at Neil Simon Theatre in New York City on March 22, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Viera and Richard Cohen attend “Jesus Christ Superstar” Broadway opening night at Neil Simon Theatre in New York City on March 22, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

She , “I thought two things. I thought, what a jerk and then my second thought was, I’m going to marry this guy.” Vieira and Cohen have now been married for 37 years. Their marriage hasn’t been a smooth ride as Cohen, a veteran journalist, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at 25.

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen attend the Andy Rooney Memorial at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on January 12, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen attend the Andy Rooney Memorial at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on January 12, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

MS didn’t stop him from living his life. He has now been living with the disease for over 35 years. The autoimmune disease targets the central nervous system and affects his quality of life. After his diagnosis at 25, Cohen lived in denial as he felt his body was healthy and thought he was beating the disease.

Richard Cohen and Meredith Vieira during an interview on November 9, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

Richard Cohen and Meredith Vieira during an interview on November 9, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

Cohen met Vieira when he had been living with MS for ten years. By this time, he had learned the hard way to get MS on the table, so he told Vieira that he was living with the disease. “And she really didn’t blink,” Cohen . The pair hiked, biked, traveled, and jogged until they felt like they owned the world.

Vieira, who starred in “Stepford Wives” alongside , doesn’t know why MS didn’t faze her but feels like it was because her husband looked very healthy. “It certainly wasn’t enough to scare me,” she . Still, Vieira admitted that Cohen was living in denial with MS as he was excellent at hiding its symptoms.

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen visit SiriusXM Studios in New York City on May 7, 2018 | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen visit SiriusXM Studios in New York City on May 7, 2018 | Source: Getty Images

Cohen didn’t want to be judged as the guy with MS, so many didn’t know he was ill. “A secret sickness is not a happy way to live,” Cohen . The couple also hadn’t planned on a specific day when they would tell their kids about their dad’s condition. Surprisingly, one day, Ben Vieira, “What’s wrong with dad?”

Richard Cohen, Jasper, and Meredith Vieira appear on NBC News' "Today" show on December 7, 2012 | Source: Getty Images

Richard Cohen, Jasper, and Meredith Vieira appear on NBC News’ “Today” show on December 7, 2012 | Source: Getty Images

Suddenly, Vieira felt like a huge burden had been lifted. The couple learned that it was okay to be identified as someone with an illness. So, Cohen went public with his illness. He found writing about it to be very useful. He talked to people who were newly diagnosed and encouraged them not to let MS control them.

Now, when Cohen looks at their three kids, his relationship with his family, and the books he has written, he sees a lot to be grateful for and nothing to complain about. Vieira also said that Cohen has learned to enjoy where he is without focusing on what will come at the end of the road. “Obviously, Richard carries the burden every day, but, ultimately, illness is a family affair,” Vieira.

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen attending the Opening Night Performance of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at the Neil Simon Theatre, in New York City on May 22, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen attending the Opening Night Performance of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at the Neil Simon Theatre, in New York City on May 22, 2012. | Source: Getty Images

Cohen also admitted in his books that MS is a that gives spouses the burden of tending to their sick loved ones. He recognized that a spouse shouldn’t be treated as a spectator as they are also in the ring fighting the chronic illness in their own way.

Meredith Vieira and Lily arrive for a special performance of 42nd Street, hosted by Julie Andrews at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on November 27, 2001. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira and Lily arrive for a special performance of 42nd Street, hosted by Julie Andrews at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on November 27, 2001. | Source: Getty Images

The veteran journalist even admitted that at one time, he recognized how ungrateful he seemed when he nursed his own emotional needs and ignored his wife’s. Vieira, who felt ignored, told him, with a face full of desperation, that she was . Cohen had to change for the better, having recognized how much his wife did for him and how unappreciative he was.

Meredith Vieira visits Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family" at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California on October 9, 2019. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira visits Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California on October 9, 2019. | Source: Getty Images

In 2019, Vieira said that Cohen, who is legally blind, is doing okay, but since MS is a , they don’t know what will come their way the next day. Cohen also uses a walker, which has made him much stronger, as much as he dreaded using it initially.

Meredith Vieira and Richard M. Cohen, with their children Gabriel, Millie, and Ben attend the Dinner of Champions "Concert at the Kodak" at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California on September 16, 2005. | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira and Richard M. Cohen, with their children Gabriel, Millie, and Ben attend the Dinner of Champions “Concert at the Kodak” at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California on September 16, 2005. | Source: Getty Images

Coping with the MS well has been a blessing to Vieira and her husband’s family. However, she said they have , too, where they allow each other to vent. Cohen is allowed to vent as he has a chronic illness, but Vieira has the same privilege because there are days she can’t stand MS and the limitations it puts on their entire family.

Meredith Vieira (center) and Richard Cohen with family on September 16, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

Meredith Vieira (center) and Richard Cohen with family on September 16, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

Vieira and Cohen don’t dwell on the tough days. They use laughter to move forward, as Cohen is a funny man with a good sense of humor.

The broadcaster revealed in 2023 that her husband had a bout of COVID-19 as he was immunocompromised. Cohen had also battled against two bouts of . Amidst these challenges, Vieira said she found her strength in family, taking care of herself, and being present.

Vieira and Cohen’s kids are now all grown. The broadcaster had over her job. She left “The View” — a show she co-hosted alongside and — so that she could raise her kids and be fully present in their lives. Now, her son Gabe , having gotten in 2019. She was so excited about her son’s engagement that she started googling nicknames for grandmother.

Vieira is an emotional person who admits to having a certain stress level each day, but when she looks at her three kids and husband, she feels like she has nothing to complain about. “I’m blessed,” she . The former “Today” host and Cohen say they are grateful for their family regardless of life’s challenges.

 


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