Former ‘GMA’ Anchor Charles Gibson Reflects on Being ‘Iconic’ (Exclusive)

Charles Gibson is still an icon even after all these years. 

The former Good Morning America anchor attended the show’s 50th anniversary brunch in New York City and reunited with other members of GMA past and present. Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE, Gibson opened up about being a key part of the show’s history. 

When told that Robin Roberts has said Gibson is on the “Mount Rushmore of news anchors,” the 82-year-old replied, “You feel a little bit like you’ve been sculpted and marbled and stuck on a bason.”

“This business of being iconic, it’s a mixed blessing,” he added.

Gibson was named co-anchor of the morning news program in 1987, after his time as ABC News’ White House correspondent. With a short break in 1998, he anchored the broadcast until June 2006. 

Some notable moments from Gibson’s time on Good Morning America include co-anchoring with Diane Sawyer and reporting on the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. 

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After leaving the show, Gibson went on to serve as the anchor of ABC World News from 2006 until his retirement in 2009. 

Reflecting on the show’s 50 years, Gibson said he feels proud. “It’s a great honor, really, to be part of this. 50 years in television, almost no show lasts more than 13 weeks these days, and so to be part of something that lasted this long is sobering.”

Gibson credits the show’s intimate approach to reporting news for its success. 

“It’s such an intimate time of day, to be on and in people’s living rooms in the morning,” he said. “As I always say, you don’t have your best friends into the house at that hour in the morning. The dishes aren’t done, the beds aren’t made, the kids aren’t ready for their day and here we are with a coat and tie, saying ‘Take us into your living room.’ ”

“That’s an anomaly in some ways, but it does develop a very personal relationship with the audience, and that’s nice,” he continued, adding,  “I always say I have these millions of friends that I don’t know.”

However, Gibson said “less and less” people come up to him in public. “I’m an old fart. It’s gone,” he joked. “Some people still do. Mostly the geriatric set that come up and say hi.”