Jim Avila Biography – Jim Avila Wiki

Jim Avila, an esteemed figure in American journalism, made significant contributions as a senior national correspondent for ABC News and a correspondent for “20/20” in Los Angeles until his departure in 2021. In a career evolution, he took on the role of senior investigative reporter at ABC affiliate KGTV-TV in San Diego in 2023.

Before his tenure at ABC, Avila was with NBC News, where he served as National Correspondent for “Nightly News” starting in January 2000. His career at NBC was preceded by his role as anchor and investigative reporter at KNBC in Los Angeles from 1994 to 1996. There, he played a pivotal role in covering the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, a contribution that helped the station secure the 1995 Golden Mike Award and a 1996 Emmy Award, as noted in his official biography on ABC News.

Prior to KNBC, Avila worked as a political reporter and anchor at WBBM-TV, the CBS-owned station in Chicago. He covered a broad range of stories with local, national, and international significance, including reporting on the Persian Gulf War from Saudi Arabia and Tel Aviv. His impressive journalism portfolio also includes coverage of the Beirut War, the TWA hijacking, the Nicaraguan civil conflict, and the Mexican earthquake.

From 1980 to 1984, Avila was a general assignment reporter for WLS, the ABC affiliate in Chicago. His earlier career saw him as weekend anchor and San Jose bureau chief for KPIX in San Francisco from 1976 to 1980. Avila launched his broadcasting journey at KCBS Radio in San Francisco in 1973, starting as managing editor and later rising to the position of bureau chief.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his illustrious career, Avila has received numerous accolades. He was honored with a National Emmy Award for his impactful reporting on the devastation of Grand Forks, North Dakota, by flood and fire, and another Emmy for his poignant coverage of the plight of undocumented workers during the Southern California wildfires in 2008.

He has received five Edward R. Murrow Awards and was awarded the prestigious Cine Golden Eagle Award for his portrayal of an immigrant couple who put their son through M.I.T by collecting reusable cans from the streets of Los Angeles. Avila was awarded the Mongerson Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2004 and has also received five Chicago-area Emmy Awards in the category of Spot News.

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.