Rafer Weigel Biography
Rafer Weigel is an American journalist working for KUSI FOX 5 as a news anchor and reporter since joining the station in November 2022. Since March 2020, he has worked as the president and founder of WMG Communication. Previously, he served TheCustomer as a managing editor, and before that, served WFLD Fox 32 Chicago as a news anchor and reporter.
Rafer Weigel Education
Weigel joined the University of Illinois in 1987 at Urbana-Champaign when he finished his high school education at Evanston Township High School. In 1992, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre. While in high school, he performed on stage with the Piven Theatre Workshop’s Young People’s Company. During the summer, he interned for Tim Weigel, his father, at WLS.
Rafer Weigel Career
Weigel works for KUSI FOX 5 as a news anchor and reporter. His TV career started when he served the station in 2005. Since then, he has worked in big markets nationwide and earned a reputation got broadcasting ground-breaking stories.
Weigel left KUSI in 2006 and started serving KOVR in Sacramento as the lead general assignment reporter. In this role, he broadcasted wildfires in Lake Tahoe and many elections. In 2008, he relocated to Atlanta where he served CNN/HLN’s “The Morning Express with Robin Meade” as a sports anchor. He continued his sports career in Chicago at ABC 7 where he worked as a sports anchor and reporter in 2011.
Even though he enjoyed sports journalism just like his father, his passion lay in the news. In 2014, he joined KTVI Fox 2 in St. Louis as an evening anchor for three years. He won awards while serving the St. Louis anchor desk during the protests in Ferguson, Missouri.
Weigel gained the nation’s attention for breaking the story that Chicago police would charge Jussie Smollett with setting up a fake hate crime. In 2017, he returned to Chicago where he worked as a weekend anchor and reporter before he was promoted to anchor “Good Day Chicago.” He has won three Emmys for his journalism work.
Acting
Weigel secured his first acting job with Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre where he played the role of Master Harold in “Master Harold”…and the Boys. Then, he worked with The Wisdom Bridge, Bailiwick, and Organic theatres. He secured his first TV role with a minor role in The Untouchables.
In 1993, he was brought to Hollywood via a news magazine show that featured younger journalists. VH1 then hired him as its on-camera host. In 1995, he had minor roles in ER and Party of Five and made guest appearances on JAG, Charmed, and Vengeance Unlimited. He starred as a series regular in NBC’s Jenny in 1997. That same year, he starred as the Dark Jedi Yun in Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. He then starred in Free Enterprise and Rated X.
Rafer Weigel Age
Weigel was born on May 5, 1969, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. He is 54 years old as of 2023. Weigel celebrates his birthday every May 5th.
Rafer Weigel Height
Weigel stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 7 inches.
Rafer Weigel Family
Weigel was born to Tim Weigel and Kathy Worthington. Tim worked as a Chicago television sportscaster and newspaper columnist while Kathy worked as a news anchor for WGN Radio. His parents divorced in 1975 and his father remarried twice; first to Carol Phifer and in 1992 to Vicki Truax. With Vicki, he had a daughter named Teddi. Weigel has a sister named Jenniffer and a half-sister named Teddi.
Tim passed away on June 17, 2001, at his home in Evanston, Illinois. The previous year, he had started having vision problems. He underwent an MRI which showed that he had a brain tumor. As a result, he underwent immediate surgery and radiation treatments. He then returned to work. Six months later, an MRI revealed that he had a recurrent tumor.
Jennifer is a Chicago radio and television personality, author, and performer who owns a Chicago-area production company. She was born on October 6, 1970, and is 53 years old as of 2023. She was previously married to Clay Champlin. Teddi was born in 1994 and is 30 years old as of 2024.
Rafer Weigel Wife
Weigel is in a relationship with Angel Boss Russell. On November 21, 2023, he posted a picture of them on his Instagram account captioning “…Today we moved into our condo we bought together in #sandiego. I’d say luck was indeed on my side….” They met in November 2022 on his first day at KUSI when she gave him a coffee and wished him good luck. Angel has worked as a senior news producer at KUSI FOX 5 since February 2022.
Previously, he was in a relationship with Margie Ellisor. Before Margie, he was married to Tiffany Weigel, a photographer. Tiffany and Weigel had a son named Heathcliff John Weigel. Jogn was born on November 20, 2009, and is 14 years old as of 2023. Weigel enjoys spending time with his son doing activities like snorkeling, and surfing, and enjoying all of the outdoor occasions in San Diego.
Rafer Weigel Net Worth
Weigel has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 Million – $5 Million which he has earned through being a journalist.
Rafer Weigel Salary
Weigel earns an annual salary ranging between $40,000 – $ 110,500.
Rafer Weigel KUSI FOX 5
Weigel is working at KUSI FOX 5 where he works alongside other famous anchors and reporters including;
- Kristina Audencial
- Kathleen Bade
- Phil Blauer
- Misha DiBono
- Andrew Luria
- Raoul Martinez
- Aric Richards
- Jason Sloss
- Shally Zomorodi
- Jason Austell
- Logan Byrnes