For many Canadians over the age of 40, Knowlton Nash will always be their most trusted news anchor.

Nash was renowned for his trademark spectacles, graciousness, and intelligence while delivering the news on CBC TV.

He died today at the age of 86.

Nash anchored The National from 1978 to 1988 before retiring to make way for Peter Mansbridge. Before that, Nash spent many years in the trenches as a wireservice reporter, including a stint in Vancouver from 1949 to 1951, and as a foreign correspondent.

He also made a living for many years as a freelancer working in the United States and also covering the Vietnam War.

Nash wrote several books, including Trivia Pursuit: How Showbiz Values are Corrupting the News and Prime Time at Ten: Behind-the-Camera Battles of Canadian TV Journalism.

 He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease more than a decade ago.