Named one of the “12 Most Influential People” by Hartford Magazine, and recently “Best Anchor” by Connecticut Magazine, native New England and Emmy award winning Dennis House is one of the most experienced and highly regarded broadcast journalists in Connecticut. Dennis can be seen co-anchoring the 6 and 11 o’clock newscasts with Ann Nyberg weeknights, on WTNH-TV, Connecticut’s ABC station.
While at WTNH, Dennis has broken many stories including a secret plan to downgrade the University of Hartford’s athletic program to exclusive interviews with Vice-President Kamala Harris and reputed mobster Robert Gentile, whom the FBI suspected was involved in the biggest art heist in world history.
From 1992 to 2020 Dennis was at WFSB-TV, (CBS) where he anchored the morning news for two years before moving to the evening news where was a mainstay for more than 25 years. He also hosted the critically acclaimed “Face the State” for more than a dozen years. Dennis’ work over the years led to many changes in state government and campaigns and his interviews were often picked up by local and national media organizations including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Politico, MSNBC and others. He also moderated several political debates and has emceed countless charity and business events. In 2017, he was honored for his work in his field and community, by being inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Arts and Sciences Silver Circle.
Dennis has traveled extensively to cover breaking news events and find the Connecticut angle for the viewers at home. On September 11, 2001, he reported live from lower Manhattan talking with Connecticut survivors of the terrorist attack on New York. Eight and a half years earlier, he reported live from the World Trade Center after it was attacked the first time by terrorists using a truck bomb.
Among Dennis’ other live reports from the scene: the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the O.J. Simpson trial, a World Series, a presidential inauguration, conventions, a Final Four, along with many storms and natural disasters. He’s walked through wildfires, hurricanes, blizzards and floods.
Dennis previously anchored what was then Eyewitness News Daybreak in the mid 1990s, during which time the program became Connecticut’s No. 1 morning news broadcast, and one of his co-anchors was Mika Brzezinski. He then moved up to anchor Eyewitness News at 5:30 with Gayle King. For nearly twenty years he anchored Eyewitness News at 11, which became the most watched late newscast in Connecticut.
For 25 years he was paired with Denise D’Ascenzo on the evening news, and when she died suddenly in 2019, he was faced with the painful task of announcing the death of his longtime friend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkMpe1YMNcs
Dennis got his start in television news at WPRI-TV in Providence, R.I., and then moved on to become the assignment manager at WMUR-TV in Manchester, N.H. From there, he went to WREX-TV in Rockford, Ill., where he worked as a weekend anchor. One of his exclusive interviews was with Ronald Reagan. He was later a weekend sports anchor and news reporter at WWMT-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Dennis was born and raised in Norwood, Mass.,and graduated from Xaverian Brothers High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from Assumption College. He is proud to live in Hartford with his wife, fellow news anchor Kara Sundlun and their children. The two are very involved in the renaissance of your capital city. In his spare time Dennis enjoys coaching his son’s football and basketball teams, spending time with his family, playing golf, racquetball, painting, going to the beach and researching his Italian heritage. He also tackles home improvement projects and loves to tinker with his antique Buick.
He and Kara volunteer their time to help with several charitable organizations including Interval House, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, the Petit Foundation, the Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation and more. Dennis is president of the Denise Foundation and also serves on the boards of Interval House, West Hartford Youth Football (he is also a coach,) the Mandell Jewish Community Center, and the National Academy of Arts and Sciences Board of Governors.
In late 2019 he joined the faculty of the University of St. Joseph as a visiting fellow to teach digital media.
Dennis is also the author of the popular blog “the Hartfordite.” and is a contributing columnist for “Seasons Magazines,” where he also hosts a podcast, “Conversations with Dennis House.”
He describes serving the people of Connecticut as “absolutely awesome,” saying, “I love journalism and I love television. I feel very blessed to be in a field that allows me to meet so many people, both here in Connecticut and beyond.”
Here is a closer look at Dennis’ career right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyKrcte6P7E
Contact Dennis: dennishousetv@gmail.com
Dennis House blog 
I hope you will take a minute to check out my platform: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gaita-for-Governor-of-Connecticut/227553234115005
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Hi Dennis. My name is Michael Ayers and I didn’t know they made a movie about Mr Willie Pep well I got to know him in the early 90s and actually he was a deputy sheriff at Lafayette street courthouse one of his close friends Vinnie Danato introduced me to him and I was working in the sheriff jail lockup at /Morgan street detention. I will never forget him because he would always take the time and talk to me staying focused and always keep your head up and help other people. Vinnie Danato was a great man as well he was Willie’s right hand man I had the utmost respect for them thank you for time. Michael Ayers
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Thank you Michael for sharing your memories of Willie Pep!
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GOOD MORNING DENNIS YOU & KARA ARE THE BEST
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Thank you so much!
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Waw goody goody malloy want cut tax 1per cent hi can keep it. I am shoppinf for new SUV A MUCH AM” i going to save his very I NEVER LIKED HIM AND STILL I DON’T WHY ARE WE PAING TAX ON SOCIAL SECURETY LOL
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want to know about a teacher that molested a student in 81 and had an abortion and is still a teacher there? Why wasn’t she sent to prison? This guy that I have been with now for 5 years is so messed up in the head because of her and the cover up by the the school district and the police. How many other young men did she molest? This guy will never be right because of what she did. Now I am suffering because he has been tainted by this woman that he trusted as a teacher who in return used him for her own sick sexual needs. He had only been in the U,S. for two years and was still learning the language as was his family. They were all scared when this happened. She messed him up so much that he thinks she still loves him. The school knew and slipped it under the rug. She lives in Glastonbury and is 70 yrs old. He told me that her husband said he’d put a bullet in his head when he found out.The teacher had an abortion and went on with her life. This guy is so messed up about this after all these years that he can’t have a normal relationship. He is still trying to protect her at 53 yrs of age. That is the enormity of what she did to his head. Sick I have no idea why she wasn’t imprisoned I am torn giving you this news because I don’t want to hurt him more but how does she just have a good life like she never fucked this (kid) guy up to the point that he can’t be “normal” or even forget about it? He brings it up every fucking night. Ya, he needs a shrink but it’s not his fault. How would the parents now like to hear this? Is he the only one she molested? Why did the school sweep it under the rug? This is hard for me to do. That is why I have not given you her name. I know it. I am more worried about my boyfriends pain if this comes out. It should and it is probably what he needs to help him get on. The publicity is what I fear will do him in. He still thinks she is good. He would be hurt if she is hurt. That’s how much she messed with him! Anyway, I’ll think about it some more. It is very serious and If I give the name , It’s out there. I just have to weigh whether or not at this point I should protect his mind or let the molester teacher get her due. I think He and his family were taken advantage of by the school because they had just arrived from Puerto Rico.He still has all the cards that his “teacher” gave him. I might mess him up more if I do this. I’m scared about that. But, I know he is a head case because of her. I have to hear it all the time. He needs help and she should not be teaching. If you can give me some advise I would like that. I just want him to be able to be happy with himself and have a good life like his teacher has.I really need to think hard about this! I know what needs to happen to the teacher but, At what cost to him? I wish I could tell you and leave him out of it. I don’t think he could take it. It is very difficult. So, if you have any advise for me you can email me because I am between a rock and a VERY hard place See justice or protect a fragile mind of a good man (that is now mental because of her) Sorry if it sounded like a rant but. it is all true and thank you for even reading this. At least, people should be more aware of who is with there kids and how things can get covered up!
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I came here to read about Dennis House leaving WFSB and couldn’t help but read your comment. I certainly hope you found some answers over the past 5 years as it certainly was clear that you were hurting.
Dennis House left WFSB! I AM STUNNED!
We certainly lost a gem. I wish nothing but the BEST as he has always given us the BEST!
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I was on Ranger Andy in 1959 or 1960.
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I’m not sure if this is where I can ask you a question I’m very technically stumped. I trust you can find the truth to this…
The $1200 stimulus check that has been issued is actually going to be deducted from our income tax 2020 filing!! I saw where ??Hunner J posted on TicToc yesterday he displayed a bill written by Congress under HR 748 subtitle B under Rebates and individual provisions #21 -25 I believe pg 145-147 I tried to get as much info as I could. If this is true we should be informed about it now. Trump is acting like he just did the lower income people a hugh favor. I’m heartsick worrying about having to pay this back. Please I hope this finds it’s way to you. I trust you to give us the truth. Thank you
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Tonights Face the State Question.
We need Governor Lamont to address the issue of forcing people back to work in phase 1 who are medically compromised.
Can you please ask the Governor if he can put a mandate that severely compromised workers – such as severe asthmatics and diabetics regardless of their age and also if they live with people who are elderly and compromised do not have to return to work in Phase 1 and not get fired or lose their unemployment benefits.
Thank you so much,
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We will miss you, Dennis! Always looked forward to you and Denise on the evening newscast. Also, you and Kara did a great job on the air. Enjoyable to watch such an intelligent and attractive husband and wife do their thing!
Good luck in your future adventures!!
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Dennis…. you are my hero for how you carried on without Denise…. I respect you for not putting someone into her chair…. be happy… I will miss you brutally…..
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So Dennis, why did you leave Channel 3, and where are you going so we can follow you.
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Greetings Mr. House,
Followed a Hap Richards tag.
Lots of detritus not related, not to Hap.
Liked your reporting. Rarely watch news anymore. Don’t understand why I need to be the arbiter of what they say now?
Good Health To You And Yours, Bob Lovell.
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Does anyone really watch local evening newscasts any more, with the availability of internet information? Local anchors come and go all the time, especially in a midsized market like Hartford-New Haven. Some, like the esteemed Denise D’Ascenzo, stay an exceptionally long time, others find Hartford a mere stepping stone on the way to a bigger market.
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Hi Dennis. It seems like you’re having a great time over at WTNH! I was wondering if you considered interviewing Riley O’Connell, the Democratic candidate challenging long-time Mayor of Wallingford, William Dickinson. He’s young and vibrant and I think this would make an interesting story for This Week in Connecticut. Thank you and keep up the good work!
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Thanks for the suggestion! Great idea,
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I read your article regarding your Italian heritage. My ancestors also came from Alanno. I have Chiulli and Odoardi in my family tree. The connection is in my Tricca Family Tree on My Heritage. I reside in the Boston area.
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