The host and producer of Like It Is, an influential public affairs show that aired on New York’s WABC, died today, about eight months after suffering from a stroke. He was 80. Noble joined the ABC flagship station in 1967, and soon anchored its weekend newscasts. Like It Is, which debuted in 1968, created the country’s largest collection of programs and documentaries on African-Americans. He interviewed newsmakers including South Africa President Nelson Mandela and Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe; entertainers Bill Cosby, Harry Belafonte and Lena Horne; sports stars Muhammad Ali and Arthur Ashe; and political figures such as Jesse Jackson and  Louis Farrakhan. His memoir, Black Is The Color Of My TV Tube, was published in 1981. “Gil Noble’s life and work had a profound effect on our society and culture,” WABC General Manager Dave Davis says. “His contributions are a part of history and will be remembered for years to come.”