Jim Avila Biography – Jim Avila Wiki

Jim Avila, an esteemed American journalist, spent many years as a senior national correspondent for ABC News and as a correspondent for “20/20” in Los Angeles until his departure from the network in 2021. In 2023, he transitioned to a new role as a senior investigative reporter at KGTV-TV, an ABC affiliate in San Diego.

Before his tenure at ABC, Avila was a National Correspondent for NBC News’ “Nightly News,” a position he held starting in January 2000. His career in Los Angeles began earlier, from 1994 to 1996, when he worked as an anchor and investigative reporter for KNBC. During this period, he was deeply involved in covering the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, an effort that helped the station clinch the 1995 Golden Mike Award and a 1996 Emmy Award, as detailed in his official biography at ABC News.

Prior to his role at KNBC, Avila served as a political reporter and anchor at WBBM-TV, a CBS-owned station in Chicago. His assignments took him across the globe, from covering the Persian Gulf War in Saudi Arabia and Tel Aviv to reporting on significant events like the Beirut War, the TWA hijacking, the Nicaraguan civil war, and a devastating earthquake in Mexico.

From 1980 to 1984, Avila was a general assignment reporter for WLS, an ABC-owned station in Chicago. His earlier career included roles as a weekend anchor and San Jose bureau chief for KPIX in San Francisco from 1976 to 1980. He embarked on his broadcasting journey in 1973 at KCBS Radio in San Francisco, starting as managing editor and later becoming bureau chief.

Awards and Honors

Avila’s distinguished career is marked by numerous accolades. He secured a National Emmy Award for his poignant coverage of Grand Forks, North Dakota, during catastrophic flood and fire events, and another Emmy for his insightful reporting on undocumented workers amid the 2008 Southern California wildfires.

He has been honored with five Edward R. Murrow Awards and the prestigious Cine Golden Eagle Award for an impactful story about an immigrant couple who financed their son’s education at M.I.T. by collecting cans in Los Angeles. In 2004, he received the Mongerson Prize for Investigative Reporting and has earned five Chicago-area Emmy Awards for Spot News coverage.

In 1999, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists honored him with reporter of the year. In addition, he garnered three Peter Lisagor Awards from the Headline Club of Chicago, winning for his coverage of the Peru drug wars and the death of Mayor Harold Washington, and was named Best Reporter of 1989.

Jim Avila Age

James Joseph Simon was born on July 26, 1955, in Los Angeles, California, to parents James Wesley Simon and Eve Simon. He passed away on November 12, 2025 in San Diego. He was 70.

Jim Avila Wife

Jim Avila was likely not married at the time of his death. There’s no mention of a wife on his obituary.

Jim Avila Children

Veteran journalist Jim Avila had three children, Jamie, Jenny and Evan.

Jim Avila Family

Avila is survived by his mother, Eve Simon; his sister, Karie Simon; his brother Tom Simon — formerly of Fox News and CNN and now of Williston Trending Topics; and his brother Jaie Avila, an investigative reporter for NBC affiliate WOAI in San Antonio. He is also survived by his children, Jamie, Jenny, and Evan.

Avila is preceded by his father, James Wesley Simon, who was a vice president of both CBS News and Mutual Broadcasting. He is also preceded by his brother Christopher Simon, who died in 2020

Death

Former longtime ABC News senior correspondent Jim Avila died on November 12, 2025, at age 70 after a long illness. His death was announced in a statement by ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic.

“Jim was a gifted journalist and a generous colleague,” Karamehmedovic said in an email to staff. “We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, including his three children, Jamie, Jenny, and Evan, and we thank him for his many contributions and unwavering commitment to seeking out the truth.”

Jim Avila Health

Jim Avila underwent a kidney transplant in 2018. His brother Jaie said Jim suffered a painful decline after his kidneys failed. Jim wanted to avoid dialysis and quickly arranged the transplant. In an interview with Adweek after the surgery, Avila said that without the transplant, he was “just a week or so from being put in the hospice.”

“The surgery for me was also quite an ordeal,” he told Adweek. “But overall, when it’s all said and done, of course it was worth it. I have a future. I didn’t think I did.”

“The kidney transplant allowed him to see one of his children get married, as well as the birth of his two grandchildren, so that was a tremendous blessing,” said Jaie.

Jim Avila Cause of Death

A cause of death was not revealed.

Jim Avila Net Worth

Award-winning journalist Jim Avila had an estimated net worth of $5 million.

Jim Avila Ethnicity

Jim Avila was of Hispanic ethnicity. Born James Joseph Simon, Avila changed his name so as to lean into his Mexican heritage.

“I decided to take my mother’s maiden name out of pride for the Hispanic people,” he said in a speech at St. Philip’s College in 2015, as recounted by The Junior Ranger, the student newspaper at San Antonio College.