Bill O’Reilly, one of the most popular faces in the US media. The television presenter, moderator, journalist, and newspaper columnist began his career in radio back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In his nearly four decades of career, he has worked with so many media companies, hosted several television shows, interviewed many key personalities, written articles, and written several books.
Bill’s life and career have also been plagued by sexual harassment allegations. An investigative report published by the New York Times revealed that the well-known television presenter had spent about $50 million to settle several women who had accused him of sexual harassment. FOX News in 2017 fired him for his numerous involvement in various harassment cases. Here is everything you need to know about the TV icon.
Bill O’Reilly Brief Bio
Bill was born on 10 September 1949 in New York City, USA, as William James O’Reilly Jr. to William James Sr. and Winifred Angela (née Drake). His father came from Brooklyn and his mother from Teaneck, New Jersey. His ancestry is Irish with a mixture of English (colonial America).
His family lived in a small apartment in Fort Lee until they moved to Levittown on Long Island in 1951. He has a sister named Janet. O’Reilly was born into a Catholic family, so he began his education at St. Brigid Parish School – a private Catholic school in Westbury New York, then went to Chaminade High School, a private Catholic boys’ high school in Mineola.
After high school in 1967, Bill continued to attend Marist College, where he wrote for the college newspaper Circle. He graduated with a B.A. in history. O’Reilly also spent his junior year at college abroad, attending Queen Mary College at the University of London. He earned an MA in broadcast journalism from Boston University and an MPA from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Career
After graduating from Marist College, Bill moved to Miami where he took a job teaching English at Monsignor Pace High School. He taught for two years (1970-1972) before returning to Boston where he passed his master’s examination. During his time in Boston, he worked as a reporter and columnist for various local newspapers and alternative weekly newspapers.
His broadcasting career began in full swing when he took up the job as a presenter and reporter at WNEP-TV Scranton, Pennsylvania. His expertise was soon seen by all and rewarded by WFAA-TV, Dallas, who presented him with the Dallas Press Club Award for outstanding investigative reporting. He soon moved to KMGH-TV, Denver, where he received his second career award, which happened to be a local Emmy Award for his coverage of a hijacking.
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From KMGH-TV Denver, Bill worked for KATU, Portland, Oregon from 1984 to 1985, and then for the WFSB in Hartford, Connecticut, and WNEV-TV Boston.
In 1986 he became a correspondent for ABC News. After hearing the eulogy at the funeral of a friend and co-ABC correspondent, Joe Spencer, then ABC News president Roone Arledge decided to hire him and he soon began hosting daytime news broadcasts – a brief preview that preceded the stories that would be featured in the day’s world news. He also began working as a reporter for ABC news programs, including World News Tonight, Nightline and Good Morning America.
During his time at ABC, Bill O’Reilly received two Emmy awards and a National Headliner Award for his expertise and outstanding reporting, but his career was to take a new turn when he was hired by FOX, which soon after gave him his own show – O’Reilly Report, later renamed O’ Reilly Factor. The television news talk show first aired on FOX News in October and soon conquered the screens and was soon rated the most-watched in the nation with over two million viewers.
While at Fox, Bill also hosted a radio show, The radio factor, which was also a hit with over 3.26 million listeners and was broadcast on over 400 radio stations. FOX News finally had to end his appointment in October 2017 after he had handled several cases of sexual involvement and harassment.
Bill has written several bestsellers, including the popular books “Killing Jesus” and “Killing Lincoln” – a book that reflects famous assassinations and deaths throughout history – and “Killing Reagan”, which was a huge success and gained worldwide recognition by entering the top seller list just weeks after its release in September 2015.
Bill O’Reilly’s Family – Wife, Children,
Bill O’Reilly was once married to a public relations executive, Maureen E. McPhilmy. They met sometime in 1992 and were married four years later in the St. Brigid Parish of Westbury, New York.
They adopted their first child (a daughter) Madeline in 1998 and a son, Spencer, in 2003.
Divorce
However, the couple had to go separate ways in 2011 due to allegations of embezzlement, domestic violence, and harassment. They separated in 2010 and finalized their divorce on September 1, 2011.
Following the custody trial in 2015, his daughter Madeline testified that she witnessed her father strangle her mother and drag her down the stairs of her house by the neck. However, Bill denied the allegation and declined to comment further on the claim, citing the need to maintain the confidentiality required by the court to protect his children. In 2016, Bill O’Reilly lost custody of his two children.
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Where Is He Now?
Bill has been busy with other things since he left Fox News. In April 2017, he launched a podcast called No Spin News, and in August, he began the digital streaming of a video version of No Spin News.
In May 2017 he became a regular Friday guest on the Glenn Beck radio program, and in June 2017 he led a public lecture tour with stand-up comedian Dennis Miller entitled The Spin Stops Here.
O’Reilly made his first appearance on Fox News since his release in September 2017 and was interviewed by Sean Hannity on the Sean Hannity Show.
Bill O’Reilly Height And Other Facts
The media icon stands at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 98 kg.
His net worth is estimated at $85 million. His annual salary in 2016 is estimated at $18 million. He reportedly has a home in Manhasset, NY, on Long Island.