Alan Colmes

Mr. Colmes, the grandson of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine, was raised in New York. He worked in radio and as a stand-up comic before he was recruited in 1996 as the counterpart to Mr. Hannity, an Atlanta talk-radio host who had been selected by Roger Ailes, the Fox News founder and chairman, so far in advance that some insiders referred to the show as “Hannity & Liberal to Be Determined.” After auditioning prospective co-hosts, Mr. Hannity, a conservative firebrand, was said to have preferred the affable Mr. Colmes. “Hannity & Colmes” was born and remained on the air nightly until 2009. Mr. Colmes attended New York public schools and received a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University’s School of Communications. On radio he was the host of “The Alan Colmes Show,” heard on Fox News Talk. He died on Thursday in Manhattan. He was 66. His death was confirmed by his wife, Jocelyn Elise Crowley, a professor at Rutgers University. No cause was specified.