Jean Shepherd(1921-1999)
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Raised in Hammond, Indiana, Jean Shepherd went on to work in the steel
mills and was a veteran of the Army Signal Corps before entering the
arts. In the 1950s, he began a long career as a radio personality
telling stories of his youth, commenting on current topics and
performing silly songs. While at WOR-AM in New York, he also broadcast
live night club acts from the Limelight in Greenwich Village. He wrote
for Playboy and other magazines. His articles were published in a
series of books including "The America of George Ade", "In God We
Trust, All Others Pay Cash", "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories,
and Other Disasters", "A Fistful of Fig Newtons" and "The Ferrari in
the Bedroom". During the 1970s, he did two series of humorous programs
as well as several
American Playhouse (1980)
episodes for PBS. In 1983, he wrote his first feature film,
A Christmas Story (1983),
putting together many tales of his semi-autobiographical character
"Ralphie". A sequel, "My Summer Story" (aka
My Summer Story (1994))
was made in 1994.
