Mark Steines has decided to bow out as host of the popular entertainment news series, Entertainment Tonight, after almost 20 years.
The Emmy-award winning journalist bid farewell to ET and his co-host, Nancy O’Dell, after 17 years on the syndicated show; his last program was July 27.
“It’s been an amazing 17 years, now seemingly gone by in a flash. But 17 years I will never, ever forget,” Steines said on his last broadcast.
The Iowa native joined the show as a correspondent in 1995, taking over as host in 2004. His blonde co-star, O’Dell, joined him in 2011. However, according to Entertainment Tonight news, Steines appeared on the newsmagazine program seven years before landing a gig as host of the show — causing the program to take notice of his “striking resemblance to Tom Cruise.”
Steines married former ET correspondent and Miss America 1993 Leanza Cornett in 1995. The pair have two children, Kai Harper,10, and A.J., 8.
In addition to interviewing the biggest stars in the business (including his look-a-like Cruise), Steines also tested out his acting chops in such series as Medium, CSI: NY and The Young and the Restless.
A replacement for Steines has not yet been named.

