Jean Shepherd

Jean Parker Shepherd was born around July 26, 1921, in Hammond, Indiana, the elder son of Jean P. and Anne Shepherd. He began his radio career at age 16, hosting weekly sportscasts for a local station, which led to juvenile roles on network radio in Chicago. After serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II, Shepherd pursued studies in acting at the Goodman Theater School and engineering and psychology at Indiana University. He transitioned through radio stations in Cincinnati and Philadelphia before settling in New York City, where he began a 21-year association with WOR-AM. His unique, relatively plotless recollections of childhood in the 1930s and 1940s earned him a significant following, with Marshall McLuhan notably calling him "the first radio novelist."Shepherd's literary contributions included editing "The America of George Ade" (1961) and authoring bestsellers such as "In God We Trust - All Others Pay Cash" (1966) and "The Ferrari in the Bedroom" (1972), often featuring his popular childhood vignettes. Beyond radio and print, he starred in Off-Broadway plays, hosted jazz concerts, and presented stand-up comedy. His television work included the popular public television series "Jean Shepherd’s America" and the screenplay for the beloved film "A Christmas Story," which he also narrated. Shepherd captivated audiences with one-man shows at venues like Carnegie Hall and numerous college campuses. He was married three times, his final marriage in 1977 to Leigh Brown, his agent and producer. Jean Shepherd passed away on October 16, 1999, at the age of 78, in Sanibel Island, Florida.