Chris Hansen

Christopher Edward Hansen (born September 13, 1959) is an American television presenter, journalist, and YouTube personality. He is known for his work as a correspondent for Dateline NBC. He hosted a segment called To Catch a Predator. This segment focused on catching people who tried to meet children online with bad intentions.

After leaving NBC in 2013, Hansen began hosting other shows. In 2015, he started hosting Killer Instinct on Investigation Discovery. He also hosted Crime Watch Daily, where he had a segment called Hansen vs. Predator.

Hansen has won many awards for his work, including ten Emmy Awards. His work helps keep children safe and solve crimes, making him a well-known figure in television and online.

Early life and education

Chris Hansen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 13, 1959. He grew up in West Bloomfield Township and Birmingham, Michigan. When he was 14, he decided he wanted to be a journalist after seeing how police and the FBI worked on an important case. He went to Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He later graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in telecommunication in 1981.

Career

1981–2013: Career with NBC

In 1981, Hansen began working as a reporter for an NBC station in Lansing, Michigan, while he was still in college. He later worked for other TV stations and newspapers in Michigan and Florida. In 1988, he became a reporter and anchor for a TV station in Detroit. In 1993, he joined NBC News.

Hansen reported on many important events for a TV show called Dateline. These events included school shootings, bombings, and airplane accidents. He also reported on issues like unfair labor and fake medicines. Hansen was in charge of NBC’s coverage of the September 11 attacks. He also reported on terrorist groups and their activities. His work led to changes in airport security rules.

Main article: To Catch a Predator

Hansen worked with a group called Perverted-Justice for a series of TV reports called To Catch a Predator. Volunteers pretended to be children online to catch adults who wanted to meet them for bad reasons. The meetings happened in special houses where cameras and sometimes police were waiting.

Hansen also hosted other TV shows about catching bad people and thieves. In 2007, he wrote a book about protecting kids online. In 2013, NBC decided not to keep Hansen, ending his 20-year job there.

2015–present: Career post-NBC

Independent television shows

In 2015, Hansen began hosting a show called Killer Instinct about serious crimes. He also planned another show called Hansen vs. Predator, but it did not get enough support to start.

Work with Crime Watch Daily

In 2016, Hansen became the host of a news program called Crime Watch Daily. He also brought back his Hansen vs. Predator series on this show. The show ended in 2018.

Have a Seat with Chris Hansen

In 2019, Hansen started a YouTube channel called Have a Seat with Chris Hansen. He uses it for talks and interviews on different subjects.

Unseamly & Takedown with Chris Hansen

Hansen helped make a show for Discovery+ about a person's life and arrest. In 2022, he returned with a new show called Takedown with Chris Hansen where he investigates people who try to harm children online.

Podcasting

Since 2020, Hansen has had a podcast where he talks about his investigations and answers questions.

Dangerous Games: Investigating Roblox

In 2025, there were rumors that Hansen would make a project about keeping kids safe on Roblox. He confirmed this and said he interviewed police and others for a documentary. The documentary came out in 2026 on a streaming service called TruBlu.

Personal life

Chris Hansen married his first wife, Mary Joan, in 1989. They had two sons together. They lived in Stamford, Connecticut and also had an apartment in New York City. After almost thirty years of marriage, they divorced in 2020. In November 2021, Hansen married his second wife, Gabrielle Gagnon.

In January 2019, Hansen had some issues with unpaid rent for his New York City apartment. These issues were later resolved. He also had a small problem about appearing in court for a television project in Michigan in 2021. This was solved after he went to court himself.

Awards and honors

Chris Hansen has won many awards for his work. He has received 10 Emmy Awards for his investigative reporting and news coverage. He also earned 5 Edward R. Murrow Awards for stories about aviation safety and a big case about cars.

Hansen won three Clarion awards for reporting on aviation security, children’s rights, and a famous criminal case. He has been honored by the Overseas Press Club, IRE, the National Press Club, and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. In 2015, he received a special award for helping keep children safe online.

Appearances

Chris Hansen has been a guest on many popular TV shows. These include The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

In 2007, he was on a special episode of American Gangster on BET. Actor Ving Rhames hosted this show. It looked at the lives of a gang in Detroit. Hansen talked about what he learned about the gang during his earlier reporting work in the 1980s and 1990s.

In popular culture

Chris Hansen appeared as himself in several TV shows. In 2006, he was in an episode of The Simpsons called Loan-a Lisa and in 30 Rock in the episode The Break-Up.

He was also featured in South Park, Family Guy, The Boondocks, Fameless, Black-ish, and The Boys. Hansen’s work has even inspired songs by artists like Pusha T, KSI, and Insane Clown Posse.