'California Gold' Host Huell Howser Dies at 67

Huell Howser, known for his public television programs capturing life in California, died late Sunday. He was 67.

Howser died from natural causes, according to KCET, a public telelvision station that hosted Howser's programs. He retired in November from hosting California's Gold, a program that he hosted for almost 20 years.

Born and raised in Tennessee, Howser broke into television in Nashville on WSM-TV, where he did popular human-interest pieces. After working in New York, he came to Los Angeles in 1981 for KCBS-TV. From 1982 to 1983, he served as a correspondent and weekend host of Entertainment Tonight. Howser joined KCET in 1985 as a producer of Videolog, a show covering short topics.

Beginning in 1994, Howser hosted the widely popular California's Gold, a travelogue featuring the otherwise unknown places in California. This program would lead to other shows, including Visiting with Huell Howser, Road Trip with Huell Howser, California's Golden Parks, California's Green, California's Water and Downtown.

Howser was known for his gentle disposition, on camera and off. "We operate on the premise that TV isn’t brain surgery. People’s stories are what it’s all about," Howser said in a post on CalGold.com, the website of Huell Howser Productions. "If you have a good story, it doesn’t have to be overproduced. I want our stories to reveal the wonders of the human spirit and the richness of life in California, including its history, people, culture and natural wonders."