Jack Paar Biography

Fast Facts

• Earned a Career Achievement Nod in 1997 from the Television Critics Association
• After leaving school at 16-years-old, he would first begin working as a local radio announcer in his hometown before eventually leaving to work for syndicated affiliates in larger cities, such as Detroit and Buffalo
• Quote: "I am complicated, sentimental, lovable, honest, loyal, decent, generous, likeable and lonely․ My personality is not split, it's shredded․"
• After growing tired of a daily show, NBC would sign him to a weekly primetime comedy hour after he left "The Tonight Show" in March of 1962
• Signed on to be the new host of "The Tonight Show", succeeding Steve Allen, in 1957
• Earned his first big break in Hollywood after Jack Benny suggested he take his place on $64 Question in 1947
• Signed with Howard Hughes' RKO Pictures in 1948
• Drafted in 1943, where he would go on to work with the USO in the South Pacific
• Boycotted "The Tonight Show" and NBC for almost a month after network executives censored one of his jokes in 1960
• Struggled with stuttering as a child, but ultimately overcame the issue after realizing he felt comfortable on stage