Four simple words—"Mike Wallace Is Here"—sent shivers down the spines of countless wrongdoers exposed by the legendary journalist on 60 Minutes. But there's so much more to Mike Wallace than just those chilling words. Now, a new documentary delves into the life and career of this remarkable man, revealing the person behind his famous interrogations. "Mike knew how to be dramatic," says the documentary's director, Avi Belkin, in an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly. "He became the first true star of journalism." Wallace wasn’t just a reporter; he was a storyteller who shaped the way we consume news today.
From Submarine to Spotlight
Raised by Russian Jewish immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, Mike Wallace's journey to becoming a journalism icon wasn't a straight line. Before he became a household name, he served as a communications officer on a submarine during World War II. This experience, while formative, was just the beginning. The documentary explores how Wallace transitioned from a wartime role to a career in radio and television, initially as an actor and game show host. "It will introduce Mike Wallace to a generation that really doesn’t know who he is," says his son Chris Wallace, who followed in his father's footsteps to become a respected TV journalist. "He’s only been gone seven years, but in today’s fast-paced world, that feels like forever."
Tragedy and Transformation
A personal tragedy transformed Mike Wallace's life and career. The death of his older son, Peter, in a mountain-climbing accident in Greece in 1962 forced Wallace to reflect deeply on his life and priorities. "Mike asked himself, 'What am I doing with my life?'" Belkin explains. This introspection led him to pursue serious journalism with a passion and dedication that would define his legacy. It wasn’t just a career move; it was a calling.
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A Complicated Legacy
Wallace’s commitment to his career often came at the expense of his personal life. Married four times, he prioritized his work over his family for many years. "He wasn’t a bad father—he was an absentee father," Chris Wallace told Closer. But later in life, Mike made amends, using the time he had to reconnect with his loved ones. "In his early 70s, he realized that one of the joys of living a long life was having the time to make amends," Chris recalls. "In the last years of his life, we became very close."
Facing the Darkness
Wallace's journey wasn’t without its challenges. In the 1980s, he faced a devastating legal battle when General William Westmoreland sued him for libel. The stress of the lawsuit took a toll on his mental health, leading him to confront his own struggles with depression. "I had done a story for 60 Minutes on depression previously, but I had no idea that I was experiencing it myself," Mike admitted. "Finally, I collapsed." Yet, he emerged stronger, advocating for others to seek help. "There’s nothing to be ashamed of when you’re going through a depression,"
