Jean Shepherd

Birth Name:

Jean Parker Shepherd

Birth Place:

South Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession

Actor, Writer, Producer

Began his career in broadcast radio for Cincinnati's WSAI in 1948
Earned his Amateur Radio Operators License at the age of 15
Quote: "[on why he called himself a humorist instead of a comic] "A humorist looks outward and sees the world․ A comic looks inward and see himself․""
Perhaps best known for both writing and narrating 1983's "A Christmas Story․"
Spent 21 years as a storyteller and announcer at the radio station WOR-AM in New York City
Often referred to as "Shep" throughout his career
Was the inspiration for the hero of the film "A Thousand Clowns" and the song "A Boy Named Sue," which was written by Shel Silverstein and made famous by Johnny Cash
Was a Chicago White Sox fan his entire life
His script for "A Christmas Story" was semi-autobiographical, based on his youth in Hammond, Ind․, as he had recorded it in his novel "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash․"

Fast Facts