Colleen Marshall is an Emmy Award-winning American television journalist, news anchor, and practicing attorney best known for her long-standing career at NBC4 Columbus (WCMH-TV). Born Colleen Lee Connors in a small coal-mining town in Pennsylvania, she has anchored the evening news in Central Ohio for more than four decades. She is also the host of the weekly political program Sunday Briefing and has practiced law since earning her Juris Doctor in 2004.
Quick Wiki/Bio about Colleen Marshall
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Colleen Lee Marshall (née Connors) |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | July 6, 1956 |
| Age | 69 years old (as of April 2026) |
| Place of birth | Dunbar, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Current residence | Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 132 lbs (60 kg) |
| Hair colour | Auburn/Brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Gary Marshall (m. 1978) |
| Children | Two (Garrett Marshall and Shannon Marshall) |
| Alma mater | Point Park University (B.A.); Capital University Law School (J.D.) |
| Profession | Television news anchor, journalist, attorney |
| Net worth | Approximately $2 million (estimated) |
Who Is Colleen Marshall?
Colleen Marshall is one of the most recognized television journalists in Central Ohio. She has been a fixture on NBC4 Columbus (WCMH-TV) since 1984 and currently anchors the station’s weeknight newscasts at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m.
Beyond her broadcasting career, Marshall is a licensed attorney who practiced corporate and family law for over 16 years.
She earned her Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School in 2004 while working full time as a news anchor.
Marshall has received eight regional Emmy Awards and a national Gracie Award for her investigative reporting. She is also a passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness, having documented her own mother’s ten-year battle with the disease in an award-winning series.
How Old Is Colleen Marshall? Age and Birthday
Colleen Marshall is 69 years old as of April 2026. She was born on July 6, 1956, in Dunbar, Pennsylvania, a small coal-mining town in the southwestern part of the state. Her zodiac sign is Cancer.
Marshall grew up in the Appalachian region as one of four children. Despite her humble beginnings, she developed a strong interest in writing and storytelling from a young age. She will turn 70 on July 6, 2026.
Colleen Marshall’s Height, Weight, and Body Measurements
Colleen Marshall stands approximately 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall. She weighs around 132 pounds (60 kg).
She has auburn-brown hair and brown eyes. Her appearance has been described as polished and professional, with arched eyebrows and defined cheekbones.
Marshall has spoken publicly about the scrutiny female news anchors face regarding their appearance. When viewers criticized her for allowing gray hair to show on air, she responded with both humor and conviction.
Colleen Marshall’s Career
Early Career Beginnings
Marshall’s career in media started while she was still a student at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. She worked at the all-news radio station KQV in Pittsburgh as a writer, producer, and editor.
After graduating, she took positions as an anchor and reporter at radio stations in Weirton and Wheeling, West Virginia.
She then moved to television, reporting for WTRF-TV in Wheeling, West Virginia. This experience laid the groundwork for her transition to a major market station.
Joining NBC4 Columbus
On October 6, 1984, Marshall joined NBC4 (WCMH-TV) in Columbus, Ohio, as a general assignment reporter.
She was promoted to weekend news anchor in 1987. By 1992, she had earned the role of co-anchor for NBC4’s weekday news programs.
Her first permanent co-anchor was Doug Adair, a Columbus broadcasting legend who championed her promotion.
Adair once said of Marshall: “Colleen is just about the best reporter-anchor I’ve ever met.” Adair retired in 1994.
Anchor Partnerships and Growth
After Adair, Marshall was paired with Cabot Rea, forming the longest-lasting anchor duo in Columbus television history. Rea retired in 2015. Mike Jackson then joined her at the anchor desk until he suffered a stroke in 2019 and later passed away. Since then, Kerry Charles has been her co-anchor.
Marshall celebrated her 40th anniversary at NBC4 in October 2024, making her one of the longest-serving anchors at a single station in Ohio.
Political Programming
Marshall hosts Sunday Briefing, NBC4’s weekly political program formerly known as The Spectrum.
The show was rebranded in August 2025 after running for more than 15 years. It remains one of the longest-running political news programs in Central Ohio.
Legal Career
While still anchoring the news full time, Marshall enrolled at Capital University Law School in August 2000 at the age of 44.
She graduated in 2004, earning a Trustee’s Scholarship, making the Dean’s List, and serving on Law Review and the National Moot Court Team.
After passing the bar exam in 2004, she practiced corporate litigation at the prestigious firm Porter Wright Morris & Arthur.
She later spent four years practicing family law at Massucci Law Group. She reportedly worked from 8:30 a.m. to midnight during this period, juggling both careers.
Awards and Recognition
Marshall has earned a long list of awards over her career:
- Eight regional Emmy Awards from the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), including four for her Alzheimer’s documentary series “I Want To Go Home: A Journey Through Alzheimer’s”
- National Gracie Award (2020) from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation for the investigative series “Culture of Cover-Up,” which exposed the abuse of hundreds of young men by an Ohio State University doctor
- Silver Circle Inductee (2018) by the Ohio Valley Chapter of NATAS for over 25 years of broadcasting excellence
- YWCA Women of Achievement (2023) honoree in Columbus
- Honored by Columbus City Council (2024)
- Associated Press Award (2012) for the Alzheimer’s series
- AP Best Enterprise Reporting Award (2010) for “Ashville Drug Bust”
- 1999 Stonewall Media Award for reporting on transgender individuals and AIDS causes
- Honorary Doctorate from Rio Grande University (2000)
What Is Colleen Marshall’s Net Worth and Salary?
As of 2026, Colleen Marshall’s net worth is estimated at approximately $2 million. She has built this figure through more than 40 years of work in broadcast journalism, a successful legal career, and public speaking engagements.
Annual Salary
Marshall earns an estimated annual salary ranging between $120,000 and $146,500 from her role as a prime-time news anchor at NBC4 Columbus. NBC4 is owned by Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest television station operators in the United States.
Income Sources
Marshall’s income comes from multiple streams:
- Television anchoring: Her primary source of income, she anchors three nightly newscasts on NBC4.
- Political show hosting: She hosts the weekly program Sunday Briefing.
- Legal practice: She has practiced law at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, Massucci Law Group, and through Colleen Marshall Law, LLC.
- Public speaking: She regularly speaks at events for organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, YWCA, and Columbus Metropolitan Club.
- Honorary engagements: She has served as a commencement speaker and receives honoraria for community events.
Is Colleen Marshall Married? Husband, Children, and Family
Husband – Gary Marshall
Colleen Marshall is married to Gary Marshall. The couple tied the knot in 1978, and as of 2026, they have been married for 48 years.
Colleen and Gary first met at a freshman orientation party at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. Gary was a photography major who minored in journalism. By November of their freshman year, they were dating. After five years together, they married when Colleen was 22 years old.
Gary worked as a news photographer and videotape editor at NBC4 for 18 years. He left the station in 1997 to start his own construction contracting business, renovating houses on his own schedule.
Children
Colleen and Gary have two adult children:
- Garrett Marshall – An attorney who works at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur in Columbus. He lives in Columbus with his wife, Suzanne.
- Shannon Marshall – A human resources professional who earned her MHMR and MBA from The Ohio State University. She works as an HR manager for the company that owns the Grand Ole Opry and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Shannon married her husband, Nick, in a ceremony that Colleen described as “a perfect day” in a social media post.
Parents and Siblings
Colleen was born Colleen Lee Connors. Her father, Jack Connors, worked as an electrician at a glass factory. Her mother, Betty Jean Connors, was a homemaker who later battled Alzheimer’s disease for ten years before passing away. Jack was injured in an industrial accident at the age of 47, which left him with a disability.
Marshall is the third of four children. She has a sister named Maureen and a brother named John.
Love for Animals
Colleen and Gary are devoted animal lovers. Together, they have adopted 18 senior and disabled shelter dogs over the years. Their current pets include Lily Putian, a deaf Jack Russell Terrier, and Pete, a disabled Rat Terrier.
Social Media Presence
Colleen Marshall maintains an active presence on social media, primarily through her professional accounts tied to NBC4.
On Facebook (@ColleenNBC4), she has approximately 24,000 followers where she shares behind-the-scenes moments, community events, and personal updates.
On X (formerly Twitter) at @ColleenNBC4, she engages with viewers about news and political topics. Her Instagram account (@colleennbc4) has over 1,300 followers.
Fast Facts About Colleen Marshall
- She was born Colleen Lee Connors in a small coal-mining town called Dunbar in southwestern Pennsylvania.
- She worked as a full-time waitress to pay her tuition at Point Park University while studying journalism.
- She enrolled in law school at the age of 44 and earned her Juris Doctor while anchoring the evening news full time.
- She once got past a security perimeter near Ground Zero during the 9/11 aftermath by identifying herself as being from “NBC4” — possibly leading the officer to think she meant the New York affiliate.
- She has interviewed President Barack Obama twice, once at the White House.
- She and her husband Gary have adopted 18 senior and disabled shelter dogs over the years.
- Her mother’s decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease inspired an award-winning documentary series that won her four Emmy Awards.
- She reportedly sleeps only about five hours per night due to her packed schedule.
- She was the 2001 commencement speaker at Point Park University and received an honorary doctorate from Rio Grande University in 2000.
- Her anchor partnership with Cabot Rea was the longest-lasting in Columbus television history.
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Wrapping Up
Colleen Marshall remains one of the most respected and enduring figures in Central Ohio journalism.
With more than 41 years at NBC4 Columbus, a successful legal career, and a dedication to causes like Alzheimer’s awareness and animal rescue, she continues to make her mark both on and off the screen.
She shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to anchor the evening news and host Sunday Briefing every week.
Her story — from a coal-mining town in Pennsylvania to one of Ohio’s most trusted news voices — speaks to decades of hard work and genuine passion for storytelling.
References
- NBC4 Columbus. “About NBC4 Columbus anchor Colleen Marshall”.
- NBC4 Columbus. “Colleen Marshall celebrates 40 years at NBC4”.
- Columbus Monthly. “NBC4’s Colleen Marshall is a Steady Voice in Columbus Television News”.
- Columbus Monthly / Susan Dalzell. “The Overachiever – Colleen Marshall Profile”.
- NBC4 Columbus. “NBC4 anchor Colleen Marshall wins Gracie Award for ‘Culture of Cover-Up’”.
- NBC4 Columbus. “NBC4’s Colleen Marshall honored by the YWCA”.
- Columbus Metropolitan Club. “Colleen Marshall – CMC Forum Speaker”.
- NBC4 Columbus. “Colleen Marshall to host ‘Sunday Briefing’ on NBC4”.
- US Attorneys. “Lawyer – Colleen L. Marshall”.
Disclaimer: The information on Star Vistiq is collected from trusted public sources. We strive for accuracy but cannot guarantee completeness of celebrity profiles, net worth estimates, or biographical data. Readers should verify information independently. For corrections or inquiries, contact: info@starvistiq.com.
