Howard Stern Biography

Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed King Of All Media, is undeniably one of the most popular figures of the media world. His immense popularity, as well as the controversial topics of his radio show, have certainly placed him at the top of the Either you Love Him or You Hate Him list. It seems like he represents the major part of the US demographic, which holds one of the lowest literacy rates of all industrial countries, as his syndicated radio show receives one of the highest set of ratings around the world.

This shock jock is heard by millions of avid listeners all over North America during his morning radio show. He manages to raise hell on a daily basis in order to ensure that his fans keep listening. His many stabs at controversial subjects include offering John Bobbitt money if he would show his severed engine.

His ongoing radio success has encouraged him to enter the publishing world with his first book Private Parts. This autobiography was the fastest-moving book in its publisher's history, as it sold over a million copies in the first two weeks of its release. Private Parts was the start-up idea for a movie version that was to be released four years later, and receive the highest test-screening rating in Paramount's history. It seems that Howard Stern simply has a way of making it successfully in every media he ventures into.

His enormous success pushed him to come out with his second book, Miss America, a few years later . Once again, his work created enormous success as his fans showed great loyalty in all that Howard Stern does.

Howard Stern was raised in Long Island, New York. His strict-mannered and overwhelming mother made his childhood a unique one that resulted in the Howard Stern that millions enjoy listening to today. He was the typical little kid that always got picked on, and that preferred staying indoors rather than playing outside. His father, who was a radio engineer, is one of the reasons that he got starting in the broadcasting business all together.

Howard Stern worked several deejay positions in cities like Detroit, Hartford, and Washington, D.C., where he first started working with his co-host Robin Quivers. All these jobs came from his involvement with college radio at Boston University. His previous radio jobs were only the launching pad to what would become a more flamboyant career on the airwaves.

New York proved to be the more popular and profitable market for his crazy and weird comedy, to say the least. As much as controversy can cause ratings to skyrocket, there are issues that can arise. In 1992, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) fined The Howard Stern Show's owner, Infinity Broadcasting, $600,000, after Howard Stern discussed (among other things), masturbating to a picture of Aunt Jemima.

As Howard Stern is a man of integrity and pride, he refused to be disgraced by the FCC, and invited them to kiss his a**. Howard Stern was a 1994 candidate for New York governor as he campaigned for issues like bringing back the death penalty (Volt For Every Vote) and eliminating daytime traffic construction. A year later, New York Governor George Pataki signed a bill, dubbed the Howard Stern Bill, which restricts construction to night time on state roads on Long Island and in New York City.

It seems that Howard Stern's on-air personality is very different than when off the air, as he is husband to Alison, and a loving father of three daughters. It was announced, however, that Howard Stern separated from his wife in 1999 after more than 20 years of marriage. This news came shortly after he started another successful venture with The Howard Stern Radio Show on Fox.

Known as the "shock jock", Howard Stern has made a living with humor that is somewhere below low-brow. Howard Stern's antics on screen have shown there is an insatiable hunger for his brand of shtick, because Howard Stern's Private Parts was the fastest-moving book in its publisher's history, selling a million copies in the first two weeks of release. Even the film version of the book, which was released four years later, received the highest test-screening rating in Paramount's history. This picture features Howard Stern's debut as an actor.

The product of an authoritative father and oppressive mother, Howard Stern quips he "was raised like veal" in Jackson Heights, New York. This singer, TV Personality, TV talk show host, author and Radio Phenomenon was born on January 12, 1954. In the public eye and on air, Howard Stern is a remarkably different person than he is in private. He has three daughters with his wife Alison (they separated in 1999, after over 20 years of marriage); he doesn't drink, smoke, or take drugs, and supposedly practices transcendental meditation. His wife, Alison, describes Howard Stern as a "very caring father."

Howard Stern got his start in Radio, where he quickly become known for his own special brand of humor. It wasn't until he landed on the New York airways that his humor was received with success. At one point his humor landed his producers with a $600,000 fine in 1992. He quickly informed the F.C.C., the governing body that fined his producers, they could take their fine and shove it. Unfazed by the F.C.C.'s comments, Howard Stern then entered the political race for the Governorship of New York. As the 1994 Libertarian candidate for New York governor, the self-styled "King of All Media," campaigned to bring back the death penalty ("Volt for Every Vote") and to halt daytime traffic construction. He later dropped out, prior to doing so, the polls gave him an 18 percent chance for victory. His position to halt daytime traffic construction became a reality in 1995 when the New York Governor George Pataki signed a bill, dubbed the "Howard Stern bill," that restricts construction to the nighttime on state roads on Long Island and in New York City.

Howard Stern has been a pioneer in talk radio for almost 20 years. During that time Howard Stern has been redefining the standards of broadcast entertainment. He states that he has " always resented the label of 'shock jock' that the press came up with for [him], because [he] never intentionally set out to shock anybody." His aim "was to talk just as I talk off the air, to talk the way guys talk sitting around a bar." No matter whether the talk is viciously attacking his own employers, discussing graphic details of his own and others' sex lives, or humiliating studio guest or on-air callers, Howard Stern has been, relentlessly controversial and undeniably successful.

Howard Stern wanted to play the role of the radio talk show host, Barry Simms in "Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers" but was too busy with his own movie, "Private Parts".

Was listed in Forbes Magazines list of 100 Most Powerful Celebrities [1999]

His daughters are Debra (born 1983), Emily (born 1986) and Ashley (born 1993).

Attended Boston University

Graduated from South Side High School in Rockville Centre, NY.

He agreed to accept $50,000 to settle a lawsuit he filed against a Beverly Hills studio he claims reneged on a deal to feature him in a movie with Melanie Griffith. He was asked to star in the movie "Jane" although it didn't have financing and then the film company failed to pay him when the movie wasn't made. He sought $1.5 million in compensatory damages and unspecified punitive damages. [August 1999]

Howard Stern's Hebrew name is Tzvi.

His 5-year, $100 million deal equates to about $385,000 a week and roughly $77,000 a day. He is the highest-paid radio personality in America.

One of the major influences on his brand of humor was Mad magazine.

Practices transcendental meditation.

Used to suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Stated on his radio show that since his divorce, the word "marriage" has left his vocabulary for good. While he is deeply in love with actress Beth Otrosky, they have no plans to even live together. His three daughters are the only people he says he's willing to live with at this point. [February 2002]

His views on parenthood have not soured as his views on marriage have since his divorce. While he shares custody of his three children with his ex-wife Alison, he says he would gladly take full custody of them if ever called upon to do so.

Is an avid comic book reader, and 'Batman' is his all-time favorite. He also loves 'Spiderman.'

Ranked #1 in 1995 on Mr. Blackwell's Worst Dress List.

Howard Stern was originally cast for the role of the cocky, arrogant radio talk show host "Barry Simms" in "Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)". He wanted the role because the character's name was originally "Harry Simms" and it was kind of a reference to him, because of the initials "H.S.". But, Howard Stern soon dropped out of the movie (it was rumored that he was fired) and the role was given to Leo Geter instead.

Announced he was separating from wife Alison after 21 years of marriage, due to his workaholic ways. [22 October 1999]

Married college sweetheart Alison Berns (b. 25 May 1955) at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, MA. [4 June 1978]

Howard Stern's ex-wife Alison marries David Simon, CEO of shopping mall giant Simon Property Group. [23 November 2001]

His paternal Grandparents, Froim and Anna (Gallar) Howard Stern, and maternal Grandparents, Sol and Esther (Reich) Schiffman, emigrated to America from Austria-Hungary.

Recently adopted a bulldog, which he named Bianca Romijn-Stamos. He also has a dog named Java, that lives with his ex-wife, Alison Simon.

Brown belt in Japanese Shotokan Karate

Performed the spoken word opening to the Blue Oyster Cult song "When the War Comes" on their Club Ninja album.

In 2004, he did a 180-degree turn in his politics, lambasting President G.W. Bush for his lack of planning in the Iraq War, adding an entire page of anti-Bush website links on his personal website and making direct attacks on members of G.W. Bush's cabinet. Shortly afterwards, Clear Channel Communications dropped his show from their stations in several markets after being fined by the FCC for an incident (several years eariler) that they deemed as profane. Howard Stern took this as a personal attack and managed to negotiate his return on stations owned by Infinity Broadcasting in those same markets where he was dropped, and began campaigning heavily for Democratic Party Presidential candidate John Kerry.

Shares a birthday with Rush Limbaugh