Jean Shepherd

Jean Shepherd
Shepherd circa 1969
Shepherd circa 1969
BornJean Parker Shepherd Jr.
(1921-07-26)July 26, 1921
Chicago, Illinois, US
Died October 16, 1999(1999-10-16) (aged 78)
Fort Myers, Florida, US
Pen nameShep (nickname)
OccupationWriter, humorist, actor, raconteur, radio host
GenreHumor, satire
Years active1945–1998
Spouse
Barbara Olive Mattoon
(m. 1947; div. 1948)
Joan Laverne Warner
(m. 1950; div. 1960)
(m. 1960; div. 1967)
Leigh Brown
(m. 1977; died 1998)
Children2
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1942–1944
RankTechnician Fifth Grade (T/5)
UnitSignal Corps

Jean Parker "Shep" Shepherd Jr. (July 26,[1] 1921 – October 16, 1999)[2] was an American storyteller, humorist, radio and TV personality, writer, and actor. With a career that spanned decades, Shepherd is known for the film A Christmas Story (1983), which he narrated and co-scripted, based on his own semi-autobiographical stories.[3]

  1. ^ Bergmann, Eugene B. (2005) Excelsior You Fathead! The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd. Applause Theatre and Cinema Books. ISBN 978-1-55783-600-7. pp. 10, 23, 442n. v.
  2. ^ Ramirez, Anthony (October 18, 1999). "Jean Shepherd, a Raconteur And a Wit of Radio, Is Dead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 14, 2022. His date of birth has been given variously as either July 21 or July 26, in years ranging from 1921 to 1929. However, several years after his death, Shepherd's hometown newspaper explained that the correct date of his birth was July 26, 1921. Kiesling, Mark (December 24, 2006). "A Christmas Story. Classic holiday movie has Hammond roots". The Times. Hammond, Indiana.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hammond was invoked but never defined (see the help page).