CLEVELAND — Beloved Cleveland broadcaster Les Levine, also known as "The Voice of Truth and Reason" to his audience, died Wednesday night after a long battle with Parkinson's and diabetes, family members confirmed.

What You Need To Know

  • Les Levine hosted more than 2,500 sporting events in 39 states

  • Levine has had Type 1 diabetes for decades and announced his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2018

  • Levine is well-known for his show "More Sports and Les Levine," which was a staple in Northeast Ohio starting in 1996

His daughter, Dr. Jamie Levine Daniel, posted the news on Twitter last night, saying, "He fought so hard for so long, and went out on his own terms."

His 50-year career began in 1970. The Cleveland native graduated from the Ohio State University with a degree in political science, and taught for a short while.

Soon after, he dug into the world of journalism. He attended broadcasting school, wrote for papers and hosted his own shows. He broadcasted more than 2,500 sporting events in 39 states. He was the play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Crusaders of the World Hockey Association, Kent State University basketball and football, Cleveland Jaybirds/Competitors of the American Professional Softball League, Cleveland Thunderbolts Arena Football and hundreds of high school games. 

Levine is well-known for his show "More Sports and Les Levine," which was a staple in Northeast Ohio starting in 1996. The show aired for 20 years on Spectrum Sports and Time Warner Cable previously. It was the first show to invite newspaper writers and columnists on air to share their opinions or discuss their stories they've been working on — which was uncommon back then. He also invited the audience to call in while the show was live to actively engage with guests. 

Outside of his broadcast experience, he made regular appearance in local newspapers. He wrote for the News Herald, and he also became an award-winning sports columnist for the Cleveland Jewish News and Columbus Jewish News.

His contribution to journalism was celebrated with his induction into the Radio and Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame in Ohio in 2006. 

Levine was also added to the Brush High School Alumni Association Wall of Achievement in 2010, and he was inducted into the JCC Softball Hall of Fame and Greater Cleveland Slo-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame. 

Recently, he received the Excellence in Radio Award from the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters. Cleveland.com also named Levine in the Top 100 Radio Personalities in Cleveland History.

His other notable contributions to broadcast include:

  • Regional Sales Manager of WSLR & WKDD in Akron, Ohio
  • The Ohio State Scoreboard Show host
  • The Tenth Inning show host, which followed Cleveland Indians baseball games
  • Taught at the Ohio Broadcasting School, now named Ohio Media School
  • Co-hosted Sports Club Radio Show
  • Hosted More Les
  • Co-hosted the Cleveland Rants and the Rollie Massimino Show

Levine announced his Parkinson's diagnosis live on his show in 2018, and the Parkinson's Foundation Ohio named Levine their 2019 Honorary Walk Chair of Moving Day Cleveland. Since his diagnosis, he's worked to raise awareness of the disease and Type 1 diabetes, which he battled for decades. 

Editor's Note: This story previously stated Les Levine's show aired on Spectrum News. This has been corrected to say Spectrum Sports.