If you’re a fan of Dateline, you know Andrea Canning for her sharp reporting and that calm, investigative voice that can make even the most chilling true crime story feel like a bedtime tale. But off-camera? Her life is a wild, beautiful whirlwind. Honestly, most people see her on TV and assume her personal life is just as "buttoned-up" as a newsroom. It’s not. At the center of that whirlwind is Andrea Canning husband, Tony Bancroft.
He isn't just "the guy in the background" of her Instagram photos. Tony is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and a former F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot. Talk about a power couple. While Andrea is chasing down leads on some of the country’s most notorious cases, Tony spent years navigating the high-stakes world of military aviation.
The Meeting That Almost Didn't Happen
Life has a funny way of working out. Back in the mid-2000s, Andrea was deep into her career, traveling constantly for work. She’s been open about the fact that she sort of wondered if she’d ever find "the one" given how much she was on the road.
Enter Martha Raddatz.
Yeah, the ABC News heavy-hitter. Martha had met Tony while he was stationed in Iraq. She basically played matchmaker, introducing the journalist to the fighter pilot. Because of their schedules and his deployment, they actually started out as pen pals. It’s kinda romantic in an old-school way, right? They exchanged emails and letters before finally meeting in person at a hotel in Maryland during Thanksgiving. Andrea once described walking in and seeing him standing by a fireplace in his flight jacket. Total movie moment.
They didn't waste much time after that. They tied the knot in 2008.
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Who is Tony Bancroft? Beyond the "Husband" Label
It’s easy to pigeonhole Tony as just a military guy, but his resume is actually pretty diverse. After his active-duty years, which included deployments to Iraq and flying off the USS Carl Vinson, he made a massive pivot.
Imagine going from the cockpit of a fighter jet to the floor of an investment firm.
That’s exactly what he did. Around 2009, he joined Gabelli Funds. Today, he’s a Portfolio Manager, specifically focusing on—you guessed it—the aerospace and defense sectors. He basically took his real-world knowledge of jets and military tech and turned it into a high-level finance career.
The "Father of Six" Reality
You can't talk about Andrea Canning husband without mentioning the kids. This is usually the part where people’s jaws drop. They have six children. Five daughters and one son.
- Anna Katherine (the eldest)
- Charlotte "Charlie" Brewster
- Christina "Kiki" Margaret
- Georgia Rapalje
- Elle Corbin
- George Anthony "Tripp" Bancroft III
For a long time, it was just "The Canning Girls." Andrea and Tony were famously outmanned by their five daughters. Then, in 2019, they welcomed Tripp. Andrea has joked that after five girls, the house was already chaotic, so adding a sixth didn't actually change the "vibe" that much—it was already maximum volume.
Navigating Two High-Pressure Careers
How do they do it? Honestly, it sounds exhausting. You have one parent who might be called away to a crime scene in a different time zone at a moment's notice and another who is managing millions in assets while still serving in the Reserves.
The couple is surprisingly down-to-earth about the struggle. They live in New York, and like any big family, their life involves a lot of sports schedules and school runs. Tony is a big golf fan and has been trying to get the girls into the sport.
One thing that stands out about their relationship is the mutual respect for the "grind." When Tony moved into the private sector at age 30, it wasn't easy. Andrea has mentioned in interviews that he had doors slammed in his face despite his military background. Seeing him navigate that transition while she was rising through the ranks at NBC seems to have forged a pretty tight bond.
Common Misconceptions About the Couple
One major thing people get wrong? They assume Tony is the "quiet" military type. If you follow Andrea’s social media, you see he’s actually got a great sense of humor. You kind of have to when you're raising six kids and your wife is a famous journalist.
Another mix-up involves his name. There is a very famous Disney animator also named Tony Bancroft (the guy who directed Mulan). That is not Andrea’s husband. Different guy, though also very successful. Andrea’s Tony is the one with the F-18 and the finance degree.
What We Can Learn From Their Dynamic
Looking at Tony and Andrea, a few things become clear about making a high-profile marriage work:
- Support the Pivot: Tony’s transition from the Marines to Wall Street required Andrea’s support, and her career required a partner who didn't mind her being on a plane half the year.
- Embrace the Chaos: You don't have six kids if you're obsessed with a perfectly quiet house. They seem to lean into the noise.
- Keep it Private (Mostly): While Andrea shares glimpses of their life, they keep the heavy stuff behind closed doors, which is probably why they've lasted nearly two decades in the spotlight.
If you’re looking to follow their lead on balancing a career and a large family, start by prioritizing communication. Whether it’s through pen-pal letters or quick texts between meetings, keeping that connection is what keeps the "chaos" from becoming "crisis."
To see more of their family life, you can usually find Andrea sharing updates on her Instagram, especially during the holidays when the whole "Bancroft Crew" is together. It's a reminder that even the most intense jobs—whether in a cockpit or on a crime scene—don't have to define your whole life.