Danuta Pfeiffer
Danuta Pfeiffer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Danuta Rylko February 22, 1949 England |
| Other names | Danuta Soderman |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, writer, radio host |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Known for | Co-host of The 700 Club (1983–1988) |
| Notable work | Chiseled: A Memoir of Identity, Duplicity, and Divine Wine; Libertas; Firmitas |
Danuta Pfeiffer (born Danuta Rylko, previously known as Danuta Soderman; February 22, 1949) is a retired journalist and writer, recognized primarily for her role as co-host of The 700 Club from 1983 until 1988, working alongside Pat Robertson and Ben Kinchlow.
Early life
Pfeiffer was born in England to a Polish father who was a sculptor and an English mother who worked as a nurse. She relocated to the United States during her childhood and was raised near Bellaire, Michigan. Her broadcasting career began in San Diego, where she served as a newsreader and co-hosted SunUp San Diego on KFMB-TV between 1976 and 1983.
The 700 Club
Following her conversion to born-again Christianity, Pfeiffer joined the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), initially assigned as a foreign correspondent based in Jerusalem. Shortly thereafter, she advanced to co-host The 700 Club at CBN’s headquarters in Virginia Beach. During this time, she experienced a significant ideological shift, transitioning from liberal democratic feminist views to conservative Republican fundamentalist beliefs.
In 1985, Pfeiffer uncovered the John Anthony Walker spy ring story by interviewing Walker’s daughter, who disclosed how her father coerced his children into espionage activities.
Her tenure at CBN ended in 1988 when Pat Robertson terminated her employment after learning that her then-husband, Swedish businessman Kai Soderman—whom she married six months after joining The 700 Club in 1983—had been previously married twice. Their marriage eventually dissolved following Pfeiffer’s return to California due to Soderman’s battles with alcoholism and suicidal behavior.
After CBN
After leaving CBN and stepping away from Christianity, Pfeiffer returned to San Diego where she hosted the radio program Danuta Time on KSDO in the late 1980s and worked as a news commentator for KUSI-TV during the early 1990s. She subsequently relocated to Colorado, contributing columns to the Colorado Eagle, before moving again in 1994 to Oregon to be closer to family. There, she married Robin Pfeiffer, a winery proprietor, and has co-owned Pfeiffer Winery since that year. In 2016, she publicly endorsed Bernie Sanders’ campaign for president.
Author
Pfeiffer penned the memoir Chiseled: A Memoir of Identity, Duplicity, and Divine Wine (2015), which explores her personal journey and experiences with CBN. Additionally, she authored the first two installments of the historical trilogy A Pocket Full of Seeds: Libertas (2021) and Firmitas (2022), narrating the story of a couple fleeing slavery along the Oregon Trail.
Bibliography
- Watersafe Your Baby in One Week (under Danuta Rylko), 1983
- Dear Danuta: Cries and Whispers of Searching Hearts (as Danuta Soderman), 1986
- A Passion for Living (co-written by Danuta Soderman & Kai Soderman), 1987
- Chiseled: A Memoir of Identity, Duplicity, and Divine Wine (as Danuta Pfeiffer), 2015
- Libertas: Book One in the Pocket Full of Seeds Trilogy, 2021
- Firmitas: Book Two in the Pocket Full of Seeds Trilogy, 2022
External links
- official website
- Inside the 700 Club: Pat Robertson's former co-host speaks out – article authored by Danuta Pfeiffer for Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
- C-SPAN interview about her memoir, 2017