History of Maria Shriver in Timeline
Maria Shriver is an American journalist, author, and member of the Kennedy and Shriver families. She served as the First Lady of California during her marriage to Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom she divorced after 25 years. Shriver founded The Women's Alzheimer's Movement, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funding research for Alzheimer's prevention. She has been a prominent voice on women's health issues and social justice causes.
November 6, 1955: Maria Shriver's birth
On November 6, 1955, Maria Owings Shriver was born. She is an American journalist, author, a member of the prominent Shriver and Kennedy families, former First Lady of California, and the founder of the nonprofit organization The Women's Alzheimer's Movement.
1968: Mother founded Special Olympics
In 1968, Maria Shriver's mother founded the Special Olympics, and Shriver has been a lifelong advocate for people with intellectual disabilities.
1968: Family moved temporarily to Chicago
In the summer of 1968, Maria Shriver's family moved temporarily to Chicago following Eunice Kennedy Shriver's work with the Special Olympics.
1970: Returned to Bethesda, Maryland
In 1970, Maria Shriver returned permanently from France to Bethesda, Maryland.
1972: Volunteered for her father's U.S. vice presidential race
In 1972, Maria Shriver volunteered for her father's U.S. vice presidential race and discovered her passion for broadcast journalism.
1973: Graduated from Stone Ridge School
In 1973, Maria Shriver graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart high school.
June 1977: Graduated from Georgetown University
In June 1977, Maria Shriver graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies.
April 26, 1986: Marriage to Arnold Schwarzenegger
On April 26, 1986, Maria Shriver married Arnold Schwarzenegger in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
1987: Co-anchored NBC News's Sunday Today
From 1987, Maria Shriver co-anchored NBC News's Sunday Today.
1988: Emmy-winning coverage of the Summer Olympics
In 1988, Maria Shriver was co-anchor for NBC's Emmy-winning coverage of the Summer Olympics.
1990: End of NBC News's Sunday Today anchor
Until 1990, Maria Shriver co-anchored NBC News's Sunday Today.
1992: Contributing anchor on Dateline NBC
From 1992, Maria Shriver was a contributing anchor on Dateline NBC.
1993: Appeared in "Last Action Hero"
In 1993, Maria Shriver appeared as herself in the film "Last Action Hero".
1998: Received Peabody Award
In 1998, Maria Shriver received a Peabody Award for her reporting at NBC.
2000: Published "Ten Things I Wish I'd Known..."
In 2000, Maria Shriver published her book "Ten Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Went Out Into The Real World", in which she describes becoming passionate about broadcast journalism after volunteering for her father's 1972 U.S. vice presidential race.
August 2003: Took leave of absence from NBC News
In August 2003, Maria Shriver took an unpaid leave of absence from NBC News when her husband became a candidate in the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election.
November 17, 2003: Became First Lady of California
Following her husband's November 17, 2003, inauguration as the 38th Governor of California, Maria Shriver became the First Lady of California. She then returned to reporting, making two more appearances for Dateline NBC.
2003: Began leading California Governor & First Lady's Conference on Women
In 2003, Maria Shriver began leading the California Governor & First Lady's Conference on Women when Schwarzenegger took office.
2003: Father's Alzheimer's diagnosis
In 2003, Maria Shriver's father, Sargent Shriver, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, leading her to become an advocate and fundraiser for Alzheimer's patient care and biomedical research.
February 3, 2004: Relieved of duties at NBC News
On February 3, 2004, Maria Shriver asked to be "relieved of [her] duties at NBC News," citing concerns the network had over the conflict of interest between her role as a journalist and her status as the First Lady of California.
October 2004: Naming of hybrid rose
In October 2004, a hybrid rose was named after Maria Shriver. The Maria Shriver rose contains starchy-white blooms and a powerful citrus fragrance.
2004: Attended both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions
In 2004, Maria Shriver attended both the Democratic National Convention to watch her uncle Ted Kennedy speak, and the Republican National Convention to watch her husband speak.
2004: Created The Minerva Awards
In 2004, Maria Shriver created The Minerva Awards to honor and reward "remarkable California women" who have changed their communities, their state, their country and the world.
2004: Left NBC News
In 2004, Maria Shriver left NBC News to focus on her role as First Lady of California.
2005: Launched WE Connect Program
In 2005, Maria Shriver launched her WE Connect Program, which connects working families in need with money-saving programs and support services.
2006: Minor role in That's So Raven
In 2006, Maria Shriver played a minor role as herself in an episode of the television series "That's So Raven" promoting a "Preparedness Plan".
March 23, 2007: Substitute host of Larry King Live
On March 23, 2007, Maria Shriver returned to television news as a substitute host of the panel-discussion talk show Larry King Live on CNN with musician Sheryl Crow and other guests.
January 21, 2008: PBS aired American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver
On January 21, 2008, PBS aired "American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver", a documentary executive-produced by Maria Shriver about her father.
February 3, 2008: Shriver endorses Barack Obama
On February 3, 2008, Maria Shriver endorsed Senator Barack Obama for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination at a UCLA rally.
February 2008: Launched Lovin' Scoopful ice cream company
In February 2008, Maria Shriver launched an ice cream company called Lovin' Scoopful with her brother, Tim Shriver. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from Lovin' Scoopful benefits the Special Olympics.
November 2008: Launch of California Legacy Trails
In November 2008, Maria Shriver launched the California Legacy Trails, a web-based multimedia learning tool designed to help students learn California history.
May 2009: Premiere of The Alzheimer's Project on HBO
In May 2009, "The Alzheimer's Project", a four-part documentary series executive produced by Maria Shriver, premiered on HBO.
May 2009: Planting of edible garden at state capitol
In May 2009, Maria Shriver planted the first edible garden at a state capitol, teaming up with Alice Waters. The garden's produce is distributed to local food banks.
June 2009: Expansion of WE Invest nationally
In June 2009, Maria Shriver expanded WE Invest nationally through a partnership with Kiva, creating the first-ever online peer-to-peer microlending program in the U.S.
October 2009: Launched "The Shriver Report"
In October 2009, Maria Shriver launched "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Changes Everything", a national study and comprehensive report conducted in partnership with various organizations.
December 2009: Created the WE Connect–Million Meals Initiative
In December 2009, Maria Shriver, in partnership with The Women's Conference, created the WE Connect–Million Meals Initiative.
2009: Shinnyo-en Foundation's 2009 Pathfinders to Peace Award
In 2009, Maria Shriver was honored with the Shinnyo-en Foundation's 2009 Pathfinders to Peace Award for exemplifying compassion, harmony, and peace.
March 2010: Held a Community Resources Fair
In March 2010, Maria Shriver held a three-day Community Resources Fair in Fresno and Los Angeles through WE Connect.
2010: Published "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's"
In 2010, Maria Shriver and the Alzheimer's Association published "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's".
2010: The Women's Conference attracted more than 30,000 attendees.
In 2010, The Women's Conference attracted more than 30,000 attendees and 150 world opinion leaders over three full days.
May 9, 2011: Separation announcement
On May 9, 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver announced their separation after 25 years of marriage.
May 13, 2011: Twitter message
On May 13, 2011, Maria Shriver posted a message for her Twitter followers, expressing gratitude for their kindness and support.
May 17, 2011: Schwarzenegger's admission of paternity
On May 17, 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly admitted to fathering Joseph Baena. Shriver described the admission as "painful and heartbreaking".
July 1, 2011: Filing for divorce
On July 1, 2011, Maria Shriver filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger, citing "irreconcilable differences".
2011: Divorce Filing
In 2011, Maria Shriver filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger, her husband at the time.
April 30, 2013: Shriver rejoins NBC as special anchor
On April 30, 2013, NBC announced that Maria Shriver would rejoin the network as a special anchor.
October 18, 2013: Return to Today anchor desk
On October 18, 2013, Maria Shriver returned to the anchor desk on "Today", filling-in for Savannah Guthrie.
2013: Returned to NBC News
In 2013, Maria Shriver returned to NBC News as a special anchor.
2013: Release of The Shriver Report in partnership with TIME and NBC News.
In 2013, The Shriver Report was released in partnership with TIME and NBC News.
2014: Published "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Pushes Back from the Brink"
In 2014, Maria Shriver published "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Pushes Back from the Brink", which focuses on women and their children in poverty.
2016: Published "Color Your Mind"
In 2016, Maria Shriver published the coloring book "Color Your Mind", a coloring book for people with Alzheimer's.
2017: Alzheimer's Association Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2017, the Alzheimer's Association awarded Maria Shriver with its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.
2018: Co-executive producer of Take Your Pills
In 2018, Maria Shriver and her daughter, Christina Schwarzenegger, were co-executive producers of "Take Your Pills", an hour-long documentary on psychostimulant medications.
2018: Published I've Been Thinking...
In 2018, Maria Shriver published "I've Been Thinking...: Reflections Prayers and Meditations for a Meaningful Life", which became an instant No. 1 New York Times bestseller.
2018: Registration change to independent
In 2018, Maria Shriver revealed that she had changed her registration from Democrat to independent.
January 2019: Released a companion journal
In January 2019, Maria Shriver released a companion journal, "I've Been Thinking...The Journal: Reflections, Prayers and Inspirations for Your Meaningful Life".
December 2021: Divorce finalized
In December 2021, the divorce between Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger was finalized after various legal disputes.
2021: Divorce Finalized
In 2021, the divorce between Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger was finalized.
Mentioned in this timeline
Home Box Office HBO is an American pay television service...
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor businessman former politician and...
CBS is a major American commercial broadcast television and radio...
California is the most populous US state located on the...
NBC News is the news division of NBC an American...
Ice cream a beloved frozen dessert is typically crafted from...
Trending
28 minutes ago Jason Kelce Wears Patriotic Briefs and Bartends at Charity Event in New Jersey
28 minutes ago LeAnn Rimes' Teeth Fell Out Mid-Song During Concert: Star's Onstage Panic
29 minutes ago McConaughey and Harrelson's 'Brothers' Comedy Series Faces Production Halt in Texas
29 minutes ago Lifeguard Impaled by Beach Umbrella in Asbury Park: A Harrowing Accident
1 hour ago John Hunt shares legacy of love after family tragedy in BBC interview.
1 hour ago Valorant Updates Arrive as Hytale Development Ceases: Riot Games in the Spotlight.
Popular
Sergio Gor is a Maltese American businessman and political operative...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Cristiano Ronaldo often called CR is a Portuguese professional footballer...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Alex Caruso is an American professional basketball player currently with...
John M Keane is a retired American general formerly the...