Biography of Howard Stern

Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, actor, and photographer whose radio show was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s and is labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style. Stern has been exclusive to Sirius XM Radio, a subscription-based satellite radio service, since 2006.

Stern wished to pursue a radio career at the age of five. While at Boston University he worked at the campus station WTBU before a brief stint at WNTN in Newton, Massachusetts. He developed his on-air personality when he landed positions at WRNW in Briarcliff Manor, WCCC in Hartford and WWWW in Detroit. In 1981, he paired with his current newscaster and co-host Robin Quivers at WWDC in Washington, D.C. before working afternoons at WNBC in New York City in 1982 until his sudden firing in 1985. He reemerged on WXRK that year, and became one of the country's most popular radio personalities during his 20-year tenure at the station. He became the most-fined host after the Federal Communications Commission issued fines to station licensees for allegedly indecent material that totaled $2.5 million. Stern won Billboard's Nationally Syndicated Air Personality of the Year award eight times, and became one of the highest-paid figures in radio after signing a deal with Sirius worth $500 million in 2004.

Stern describes himself as the "King of All Media" for his ventures outside radio. Since 1987, he has hosted numerous late night television shows, pay-per-view events and home video releases. He embarked on a five-month political campaign for Governor of New York in 1994. His two books, Private Parts and Miss America , entered the The New York Times Best Seller list at number one. The former was made into a biographical comedy film in 1997 that had Stern and his radio show staff play themselves; it topped the box office chart and grossed $41.2 million domestically. Stern performs on its soundtrack which charted at number one on the Billboard 200. Stern's photography has been featured in numerous magazines including Hamptons and WHIRL. In 2012, he became a judge on the television show America's Got Talent.