Richard Van Tassel Des Autels[2][3](December 11, 1910 – September 2, 1968)[4] was an American film actor, radio announcer, and television news anchor.
[14] In 1941, along with Mike Frankovich, Don Thompson and others, Des Autel provided play-by-play coverage on NBC Blue Network's PCPFL broadcasts.
[17] In 1948, Des Autels collaborated with producer-director Jerry Fairbanks, providing narration for NBC's Television Close-Ups, a series of 26 five-minute mini-documentaries, dealing primarily with historical subjects.
[22][23] Des Autels was married at least twice; to Patricia Lucille Burnett from 1931 until at least 1938,[24][25] and, from October 1943 until his death, to Betty Jane McPherson (née Sheffer).
[26][1] On September 2, 1968, three days after being admitted to the U.S. Veterans Hospital in North Hollywood, Des Autels died of undisclosed causes,[27] although the Associated Press did note that he had moved from Phoenix to Los Angeles the previous year "for treatment of a chronic throat ailment.