Dan Rather is an American journalist and former news anchor, best known for his work with CBS News. He was born on October 31, 1931, in Wharton, Texas. Rather gained prominence as a reporter during the Vietnam War and later became the anchor of the CBS Evening News from 1981 to 2005. Throughout his career, Rather has covered significant events, including the Watergate scandal and the September 11 attacks. He is recognized for his distinctive reporting style and has received numerous awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Award for his contributions to journalism.