When Paar left "The Tonight Show" in 1962, Downs -- who had frequently substituted for Paar -- thought he might be asked to replace him.

Instead, the network hired Johnny Carson and Downs segued to NBC's "Today," where he spent nearly a decade on the morning program.

At "Today," Downs famously championed the career of Barbara Walters, advocating that the young writer-producer be given an opportunity on camera.

The two later teamed up on a syndicated program in the mid-1970s, "Not for Women Only," before they were later reunited on "20/20."

Downs was not involved with the development and launch of "20/20" in 1978, recalling in an interview with the Television Academy's Archives of American Television that the premiere was "hideously disastrous" and pummeled by critics.