Don Imus - Radio Talk Show Host, Family and Childhood
Don Imus's Personal Details
Don Imus is an American radio talk show host and philanthropist
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | July 23, 1940 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Alcoholics, Philanthropists, Media Personalities, Radio Jockeys, Radio Talk Show Host |
| City/State | California |
| Spouses | Deirdre Imus, Harriet Showalter |
| Siblings | Fred Imus |
| Known as | John Donald Imus Jr., John Donald Imus Jr., John Donald |
| Childrens | Frederick Wyatt Imus |
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Riverside |
| Height | 188 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | John Donald Imus Sr. |
| Mother | Frances E. |
| Net Worth | $35 Million as of Jun 9,2017 |
| Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Born in | Riverside |
| Famous as | Radio Talk Show Host |
Don Imus's photo
Who is Don Imus?
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio talk show host and philanthropist. As a radio host he is famous as well as notorious for his controversial sense of humor and rude in-your-face comments that are both entertaining and offensive. He rose to fame with the nationally syndicated talk show, ‘Imus in the Morning’, which was first aired in 1971. Already a popular radio personality at the time the show premiered, he touched even greater heights of fame when the talk show became a sensational favorite with the audience. Well known for his style of “insult humor”, he is credited with introducing the New York radio community to the shock jock style of hosting which comes naturally to him. Raised on a big ranch in Arizona, Don Imus had a rough childhood marked by a troubled adolescence and his parents’ divorce. He assumed the image of a tough cowboy to deal with life’s challenges and even had a few brushes with the law. Eventually he decided to get serious about life and began a career as a radio disc jockey. He found great success in this profession due to his unconventional sense of humor and also gained quite a few critics. Don Imus is also well known for his involvement in philanthropic works
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Childhood & Early Life
John Donald Imus, Jr. was born on July 23, 1940, in Riverside, California, U.S. to Frances E. (née Moore) and John Donald Imus, Sr. He had a younger brother, Fred.
His father owned a sprawling cattle ranch in Arizona where John was raised. He had a tough childhood and did poorly at school. He had changed a number of schools by the time he was in his late teens. His parents’ divorce when he was 15 also had a great negative impact on him.
He dropped out from high school and joined the Marine Corps in 1957. He was discharged after three years in 1960.
Career
His miseries continued even after his discharge from the corps. With no formal education or vocational training, the young man struggled to find stable employment. He worked in a series of short-lived jobs including stints as a window dresser and a rock 'n' roll musician. As a young man he also became addicted to alcohol.
Without a proper job, Don Imus found himself homeless for a while. After working for some time in uranium and copper mines, he found work as a brakeman for Southern Pacific Railroad.
During this time he won a talent contest at Johnny Otis's nightclub. This gave him an opportunity to embark on a career as a singer/songwriter, managed by Otis.
Don Imus regularly listened to radio and approached the owner of a nearby radio station asking for a job. Soon he was appointed as a radio disc jockey at radio station KUTY in Palmdale, California, in 1968.
After a few months’ stint at KUTY, he moved to KJOY, a small radio station in Stockton, California, in 1969. He soon gained a reputation for his rude comments and controversial statements that not only made him popular, but also got him into trouble sometimes. He was fired from KJOY for saying "hell" on air.
Moderately popular by now, he had no problem getting another job and was soon hired by KXOA in Sacramento, California. There his popularity increased manifold after he played an on-air prank of calling up a restaurant and ordering 1200 hamburgers.
Don Imus joined the WNBC radio in New York City in 1971. During this time he recorded three record albums: ‘1200 Hamburgers to Go’, ‘One Sacred Chicken to Go with Anthrax’, and ‘This Honky's Nuts’.
He started hosting the show ‘Imus in the Morning’ in December 1971. The show soon became very popular because of his scathing sense of humor and controversial comments. He introduced the concept of “Insult Humor” to the audiences and never shied away from making fun of celebrities, media personalities, and even his own sponsors!
Don Imus’ technique greatly increased the rating of the show and made him immensely popular among his fans. However, he was badly addicted to alcohol and drugs by this time and was known to be frequently absent from work. In 1977, he was fired from WNBC because of his absenteeism and certain other factors.
Lady fortune smiled at him again as he was unexpectedly hired back by WNBC in September 1979 and asked to resume his morning show. He continued hosting the tremendously popular show which was broadcast almost every weekday morning for 36 years on radio and 11 years on MSNBC until it was canceled on April 12, 2007.
Major Works
Don Imus is best known for hosting the show ‘Imus in the Morning’, a highly popular show that was broadcast almost every weekday morning for 36 years on radio and 11 years on MSNBC until it was canceled on April 12, 2007. The program was once among the most listened to radio talk shows in the United States.
Philanthropic Works
Don Imus and his wife founded the Imus Ranch in 1999 with the purpose of providing children with cancer a chance to experience life on a functioning cattle ranch free of charge. The aim of the endeavor was to build up the children’s self-confidence while they were struggling to live with a terrible disease that not only weakened them physically, but also eroded their confidence. The ranch program was discontinued in 2014.
The Imuses are also involved with the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology at New Jersey's Hackensack University Medical Center, Tomorrow's Children Foundation, a New Jersey based charity for children with cancer and blood disorders, as well as with the CJ Foundation, an organization which supports SIDS research and educational efforts.
Awards & Achievements
He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1989.
Don Imus is the recipient of four Marconi Awards. Thrice he won the award for Major Market Personality of the Year (1990, 1992, and 1997) and once for Network Syndicated Personality (1994).
In 1997 he was named one of the 25 Most Influential People in America by ‘Time’ magazine.
Personal Life & Legacy
His first marriage was to Harriet who he divorced in 1979. During this marriage he had adopted Harriet’s two daughters from a previous relationship. Harriet and Don also had two daughters of their own.
Don Imus married his second wife, Deirdre Coleman in 1994. This marriage produced one son. Both he and Deirdre are vegans.
He announced to his audience in March 2009 that he was diagnosed with Stage II prostate cancer. He also suffers from some respiratory issues.
Net Worth
As of 2015, Don Imus has an estimated net worth of $35 million.
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Don Imus's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame | |
Don Imus biography timelines
- // 23rd Jul 1940John Donald Imus, Jr. was born on July 23, 1940, in Riverside, California, U.S. to Frances E. (née Moore) and John Donald Imus, Sr. He had a younger brother, Fred.
- // 1957 To 1960He dropped out from high school and joined the Marine Corps in 1957. He was discharged after three years in 1960.
- // 1968Don Imus regularly listened to radio and approached the owner of a nearby radio station asking for a job. Soon he was appointed as a radio disc jockey at radio station KUTY in Palmdale, California, in 1968.
- // 1969After a few months’ stint at KUTY, he moved to KJOY, a small radio station in Stockton, California, in 1969. He soon gained a reputation for his rude comments and controversial statements that not only made him popular, but also got him into trouble sometimes. He was fired from KJOY for saying "hell" on air.
- // 1971Don Imus joined the WNBC radio in New York City in 1971. During this time he recorded three record albums: ‘1200 Hamburgers to Go’, ‘One Sacred Chicken to Go with Anthrax’, and ‘This Honky's Nuts’.
- // Dec 1971He started hosting the show ‘Imus in the Morning’ in December 1971. The show soon became very popular because of his scathing sense of humor and controversial comments. He introduced the concept of “Insult Humor” to the audiences and never shied away from making fun of celebrities, media personalities, and even his own sponsors!
- // 1977Don Imus’ technique greatly increased the rating of the show and made him immensely popular among his fans. However, he was badly addicted to alcohol and drugs by this time and was known to be frequently absent from work. In 1977, he was fired from WNBC because of his absenteeism and certain other factors.
- // 1979His first marriage was to Harriet who he divorced in 1979. During this marriage he had adopted Harriet’s two daughters from a previous relationship. Harriet and Don also had two daughters of their own.
- // Sep 1979 To 12th Apr 2007Lady fortune smiled at him again as he was unexpectedly hired back by WNBC in September 1979 and asked to resume his morning show. He continued hosting the tremendously popular show which was broadcast almost every weekday morning for 36 years on radio and 11 years on MSNBC until it was canceled on April 12, 2007.
- // 1989He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1989.
- // 1990Don Imus is the recipient of four Marconi Awards. Thrice he won the award for Major Market Personality of the Year (1990, 1992, and 1997) and once for Network Syndicated Personality (1994).
- // 1994Don Imus married his second wife, Deirdre Coleman in 1994. This marriage produced one son. Both he and Deirdre are vegans.
- // 1997In 1997 he was named one of the 25 Most Influential People in America by ‘Time’ magazine.
- // 1999 To 2014Don Imus and his wife founded the Imus Ranch in 1999 with the purpose of providing children with cancer a chance to experience life on a functioning cattle ranch free of charge. The aim of the endeavor was to build up the children’s self-confidence while they were struggling to live with a terrible disease that not only weakened them physically, but also eroded their confidence. The ranch program was discontinued in 2014.
- // 12th Apr 2007Don Imus is best known for hosting the show ‘Imus in the Morning’, a highly popular show that was broadcast almost every weekday morning for 36 years on radio and 11 years on MSNBC until it was canceled on April 12, 2007. The program was once among the most listened to radio talk shows in the United States.
- // Mar 2009He announced to his audience in March 2009 that he was diagnosed with Stage II prostate cancer. He also suffers from some respiratory issues.
- // 2015As of 2015, Don Imus has an estimated net worth of $35 million.
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Don Imus's FAQ
What is Don Imus birthday?
Don Imus was born at 1940-07-23
Where is Don Imus's birth place?
Don Imus was born in Riverside
What is Don Imus nationalities?
Don Imus's nationalities is American
Who is Don Imus spouses?
Don Imus's spouses is Deirdre Imus, Harriet Showalter
Who is Don Imus siblings?
Don Imus's siblings is Fred Imus
Who is Don Imus childrens?
Don Imus's childrens is Frederick Wyatt Imus
Which company or organization was founded by Don Imus?
Don Imus was the founder/co-founder of Imus Ranch
How tall is Don Imus?
Don Imus's height is 188
Who is Don Imus's father?
Don Imus's father is John Donald Imus Sr.
Who is Don Imus's mother?
Don Imus's mother is Frances E.
What is Don Imus's sun sign?
Don Imus is Cancer
How famous is Don Imus?
Don Imus is famouse as Radio Talk Show Host