Maria Shriver | American Television Journalist - Britannica

Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos Maria Shriver Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics Images Contents Literature Journalism CITE verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maria-Shriver Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

• Official Site of Maria Shriver
• CNN - "Alzheimer's research has always been bipartisan and it must continue" : Maria Shriver on the fight against this disease
• CBS News - Maria Shriver on meeting heartbreak with poetry
• Turner Classic Movies - Maria Shriver
• NBC News - Maria Shriver: Why I'm focusing on 'less is more' this Fourth of July
• California Museum - Biography of Maria Shriver
• PBS - Maria Shriver advocates for patients and families affected by Alzheimer's disease

Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

• Maria Shriver - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Maria Shriver American television journalist Ask Anything Homework Help Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 2, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

Maria Shriver (born November 6, 1955, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) is best known as the first lady of California (2003–11) and an American television journalist. She is recognized for her work as a reporter for the NBC (National Broadcasting Company) program Dateline and as the host of First Person with Maria Shriver, an interview-based program featuring public figures.

Shriver was born into a politically prominent family as the daughter of diplomat Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy, a sister of Pres. John F. Kennedy. In 1977, after earning a B.A. in American studies from Georgetown University, she began her career in television journalism as a writer and producer for station KYW in Philadelphia. She advanced rapidly in her career, becoming a writer and producer for the Baltimore, Maryland, show Evening Magazine in 1978 and a national news correspondent for CBS in 1983. She was soon named coanchor of CBS Morning News, where she remained for three years. In 1986 she left CBS for NBC, where she was a news correspondent and the anchor of the young-adult television newsmagazine Main Street. That year she also married actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. From 1987 to 1990, Shriver coanchored the Sunday edition of the NBC news program Today. She worked as a correspondent for Dateline from 1989 until 2004, when she resigned because of conflicts of interest that arose after her husband became governor of California (2003–11). In 2013 she returned to NBC.

Quick Facts Born: November 6, 1955, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. (age 70) (Show more) House / Dynasty: Kennedy family (Show more) Notable Family Members: spouse Arnold Schwarzenegger father R. Sargent Shriver mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver (Show more) On the Web: NBC News - Maria Shriver: Why I'm focusing on 'less is more' this Fourth of July (Feb. 02, 2026) (Show more) See all related content

In addition to her news reporting, Shriver authored numerous children’s books and, as the first lady of California, was heavily involved in charity and volunteer work. In May 2011 Shriver and Schwarzenegger announced that they were separating; a few days later it was revealed that he had fathered a child with a woman who had worked in the household staff. Shriver subsequently filed for divorce, which was finalized in 2021.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.