Meet Lester Holt’s Parents: June Holt and Lester Holt Dr.

Lester Don Holt Jr. is an American journalist and news anchor best known for anchoring the weekday editions of NBC Nightly News, NBC Nightly News: Kids Edition, and Dateline NBC.

On June 18, 2015, he was appointed the permanent anchor of NBC Nightly News following Brian Williams’s demotion.

Holt made history as the first Black male solo anchor of a major network evening newscast, following in the footsteps of Max Robinson, who co-anchored ABC News’ evening broadcasts.

Lester Don Holt Jr. was born on March 8, 1959, in Marin County, California, United States. He is the youngest of four children born to June DeRozario and Lester Don Holt Sr., a former U.S. Air Force sergeant.

Holt has three siblings from his mother’s previous marriage, including his half-brother, Mike “Swani” Swanigan. However, details about his other siblings are not widely known.

He graduated from Cordova High School in 1977 and attended California State University, Sacramento, where he majored in government but did not complete his degree.

Holt has been recognized throughout his career with multiple honorary degrees, including one from Rutgers University in 2020 and another from Villanova University in 2023.

Holt identifies as African American, reflecting his father’s heritage, while his mother’s lineage includes Jamaican, Indian, and English ancestry. His religious beliefs are not publicly known.

Lester Don Holt Sr.

Lester Don Holt Sr., the father of renowned American news anchor Lester Holt, was born in the early 1930s in Michigan, United States, although his birthdate remains unknown.

While the names of his parents are not publicly documented, he is known to have had siblings, though specific details about them are also unavailable.

Holt Sr.’s formal educational background is not widely known, but he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force for over two decades, including a deployment in Da Nang during the Vietnam War.

Following his military retirement, he pursued further education and remained active in the workforce. He is of African-American descent; Holt Sr. had ancestral ties to Michigan and Tennessee. His religious beliefs have not been publicly disclosed.

June Holt (née DeRozario)

June Holt (née DeRozario), mother of American news anchor Lester Holt, was born on June 22, 1936, in Harlem, New York, United States. She was the daughter of Canute DeRozario, though details about her mother’s identity remain unknown.

Holt had a brother and a sister, though their names are not widely documented. While she may have received a formal education, specific details about her academic background are not publicly available.

She is of Jamaican descent; June Holt has a diverse heritage that includes Indian, English, and Portuguese ancestry. Her religious beliefs were not publicly known.

Lester Don Holt Sr.’s current relationship status is unknown. He was previously married to June Holt (née DeRozario), with whom he had four children, including their son, Lester Holt Jr. June also had a son from a previous marriage before marrying Holt Sr.

Tragically, June Holt passed away on April 29, 2023, at 86.