CNBC Host Mark Haines Dead at 65

"Squawk on the Street" host cut through Wall Street jargon with common sense

Mark Haines, the dry-witted and unflappable host of CNBC's "Squawk on the Street," has died. He was 65.

Haines was a charter member of the on-air team at "Squawk Box," and then "Squawk on the Street," the business network's influential morning show which Wall Streeters and individual investors alike tune in to in droves to get a jump on the day's stock trading. Haines was known for cutting through the filibusters of financiers, defusing on-air squabbles with an easy quip and giving commentary that made sense to pros and amateurs alike.

"With his searing wit, profound insight and piercing interview style, he was a constant and trusted presence in business news for more than 20 years," CNBC President Mark Hoffman said in a statement to CNBC employees. "From the dot-com bubble to the tragic events of 9/11 to the depths of the financial crisis, Mark was always the unflappable pro."

CNBC correspondent Phil LeBeau tweeted Haines' "wit and tough approach to handling interviews will be missed.”

The network said Haines died at his home, but did not give a cause of death.

Haines may be best remembered for his calming and commanding presence during the 9/11 tragedy when he reacted unflappably to the furious stream of incoming rumor and even more astonishing truth with a professionalism that rivaled any television anchor, said CNBC senior economics reporter Steve Liesman.

Haines grew up on Long Island and attended Denison University in Ohio before going on to law school at the University of Pennsylvania.

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