Mike Wallace, star of '60 Minutes', Dead at 93

Mike Wallace

The Star Interviewer Is Dead at 93

Mike Wallace, the fearsome interviewer of 60 Minutes who was known for his unabashed style when it came to asking politicians, newsmakers, and world leaders the tough questions, died late Saturday night. He was 93.

READ: Mike Wallace Was A Dogged Interviewer

Mr. Wallace, who's career spanned 60 years, was the first person hired by producer Don Hewitt when he was putting together the staff for a news oriented show called 60 Minutes in 1968. Hewitt and the network didn't know if the show was going to work with audiences, but it quickly became apparent that Wallace was its star. By the mid-70s, Wallace became the face of 60 Minutes, interviewing everyone from celebrities, to top aides in Richard Nixon's administration.

WATCH: Mike Wallace Remembered

"His extraordinary contribution as a broadcaster is immeasurable and he has been a force within the television industry throughout its existence," Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corporation, said in a statement on Sunday. "His lost will be felt by all of us."

Wallace died at a specialized care facility in New Canaan, Connecticut, where he had been living in recent years. He is survived by his his wife of 26 years, Mary, son, Chris, stepdaughter, Pauline Dora, and stepson Eames Yates.