Bill O'Reilly
Born 1949 · Age 76
American conservative commentator, journalist, author, and television host best known for hosting The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News (1996–2017) and for the bestselling 'Killing' book series.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Washington Heights, Manhattan
William James O'Reilly Jr. born at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital to William James Sr. and Winifred Angela (Drake) O'Reilly.
Family moved to Levittown, Long Island
O'Reilly's family relocated from Fort Lee, New Jersey to Levittown on Long Island.
Met Billy Joel during high school years
O'Reilly befriended future singer Billy Joel while at Chaminade High School (recollection from later interviews).
Graduated Chaminade High School
Completed secondary education at Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York.
Matriculated at Marist College (History major)
Began undergraduate studies in history at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY; wrote for campus paper and played as punter for club football.
Junior year abroad at Queen Mary College, University of London
Spent junior year abroad in London while enrolled at Marist College.
Played semi-professional baseball for New York Monarchs
Pitched in semi-professional baseball while in/around college years.
Began teaching at Monsignor Pace High School
Taught English and history at Monsignor Edward Pace High School in the Miami area (1970–1972).
Received BA in History from Marist College
Graduated with honors in history from Marist College.
Left high school teaching
Ended two-year teaching stint at Monsignor Pace High School and prepared to return to graduate studies.
Enrolled and earned MA in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University
Returned to school and completed a Master of Arts in broadcast journalism; interned at WBZ-TV and wrote for local weeklies including the Boston Phoenix.
Began television career at WNEP-TV (Scranton)
Started reporting/anchoring work at WNEP-TV, including weather reporting, marking the start of his broadcasting career.
Worked at WFAA-TV in Dallas and won Dallas Press Club Award
Served at WFAA in Dallas; received Dallas Press Club Award for excellence in investigative reporting (mid-1970s).
Won local Emmy at KMGH-TV (Denver) for skyjacking coverage
While at KMGH in Denver he earned a local Emmy Award for coverage of a skyjacking incident.
Worked at WFSB in Hartford
Held reporting/anchoring responsibilities at WFSB (1979–1980).
Anchored 7:30 Magazine on WCBS-TV (New York)
Anchored the local news-feature program 7:30 Magazine and, as WCBS anchor/correspondent, won an Emmy for investigating corrupt city marshals.
Became a CBS News correspondent
Joined CBS News as a correspondent; covered the wars in El Salvador and the Falklands from Buenos Aires.
Departed CBS after dispute over footage
Left CBS News following a dispute regarding uncredited use of footage shot by his crew in Buenos Aires.
Joined WNEV-TV/WCVB and hosted New England Afternoon
Returned to local Boston TV as a weekday reporter, weekend anchor and host of a local news magazine.
Brief stint at KATU (Portland) then joined WCVB-TV
Worked at KATU in Portland for nine months, then returned to Boston joining WCVB as reporter and columnist-at-large for NewsCenter 5.
Joined ABC News; delivered eulogy for Joe Spencer
Hired by ABC News after delivering a eulogy for ABC correspondent Joe Spencer (died Jan 22, 1986); served as general assignment reporter and hosted daytime briefs.
Won two Emmy Awards and two National Headliner Awards at ABC
During a three-year tenure at ABC News, O'Reilly earned two Emmys and two National Headliner Awards for reporting excellence.
Joined Inside Edition as anchor
Became anchor of the nationally syndicated tabloid program Inside Edition three weeks into its run and served until 1995.
Expressed desire to leave Inside Edition
Reportedly informed he wanted to quit Inside Edition in July 1994; left the program the following year.
Attended Harvard Kennedy School
Enrolled at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1995 for graduate study in public administration.
Married Maureen McPhilmy
O'Reilly married Maureen McPhilmy (marriage reported 1996; later divorced 2011).
Earned MPA from Harvard Kennedy School
Completed Master of Public Administration degree in 1996 after attending the Kennedy School.
Hired by Fox News Channel; launched The O'Reilly Report
Roger Ailes hired O'Reilly to anchor a new show on the startup Fox News Channel; program later renamed The O'Reilly Factor.
Published The O'Reilly Factor (book)
Released non-fiction book The O'Reilly Factor: The Good, Bad, and Completely Ridiculous in American Life (popular bestseller).
The O'Reilly Factor became #1 cable news show
By 2001 the program had become the most-watched cable news program in the U.S.; would remain top-rated for many years.
Launched radio program The Radio Factor
Began The Radio Factor (2002–2009), a nationally syndicated radio program that reached over 3.26 million listeners on 400+ stations.
Called for Pepsi boycott over Ludacris
On Aug 27, 2002 O'Reilly urged Americans to boycott Pepsi because rapper Ludacris' lyrics were objectionable; Pepsi subsequently dropped Ludacris from ads.
Promised to apologize if no WMDs found in Iraq
On Good Morning America pledged to apologize and stop trusting the Bush administration if Iraq were found clean of WMDs.
Ranked No. 11 on Talkers Magazine 'Heavy Hundred' (approx.)
While hosting The Radio Factor, Talkers Magazine listed O'Reilly among the 100 most important talk show hosts (No. 11 reported in sources).
Andrea Mackris filed sexual harassment lawsuit (settlement reported)
Associate producer Andrea Mackris sued O'Reilly alleging sexual harassment; settlement figures reported between $2M and $10M in media reports.
Admitted his analysis about WMDs was wrong
On Good Morning America acknowledged his earlier analysis about Iraq's WMDs was incorrect and apologized publicly.
Began denouncing Dr. George Tiller
Started frequently criticizing abortion provider George Tiller on-air, referring to him as 'Tiller the baby killer'.
Parodies and cultural prominence from viral rant
The 'We'll do it live' rant was parodied widely (Stephen Colbert, Family Guy, Trevor Noah) and named among Time's 'Top 10 Celebrity Meltdowns'.
Reported Factor ratings milestone: #1 for decades
By 2008–2016 The O'Reilly Factor had been the highest-rated cable news show (source notes it was #1 for many years/over 280 weeks consulted in site material).
Received National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Governor's Award
Presented with the NATAS Governor's Award at an Emmy awards show dinner in 2008.
Inside Edition 'outtake' viral video surfaced
A 1990s outtake of O'Reilly ranting ('Fuck it, we'll do it live!') surfaced on YouTube on May 12, 2008 and became a viral pop-culture moment.
Dance remix of rant nominated for Webby Award
A dance remix of the viral rant was nominated for a 2009 Webby Award for 'Best Viral Video'.
Ended The Radio Factor
The nationally syndicated radio program The Radio Factor concluded in 2009 after roughly seven years on air.
Controversial appearance on The View
On Oct 14, 2010 O'Reilly argued over whether a mosque should be built near the 9/11 memorial; Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar briefly walked off set.
Cameo roles in feature films
Made cameo appearances in An American Carol (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) and Man Down (2015).
Published Killing Lincoln (co-authored with Martin Dugard)
Released Killing Lincoln, the first of the 'Killing' historical series; became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted as a TV film.
Debated Jon Stewart at 'The Rumble in the Air-Conditioned Auditorium'
Held a charity debate with Jon Stewart at George Washington University as a high-profile public event.
Published Killing Kennedy (co-authored)
Released Killing Kennedy, another NYT bestseller which would be adapted for television.
Appeared at the Kennedy Center Honors
Appeared at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013 and gave a tribute to jazz musician Herbie Hancock.
Executive produced Killing Lincoln/Kennedy TV films
Served as executive producer on television adaptations of his books shown on National Geographic/History Channel.
Published Killing Jesus; film adaptations continued
Released Killing Jesus (2013); National Geographic adapted several of his co-authored books into TV films (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016).
Primetime Emmy nomination for Killing Kennedy (television movie)
Killing Kennedy received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Television Movie (2014).
Interviewed President Barack Obama before Super Bowl XLVIII
Conducted a pre-Super Bowl interview with President Obama in early February 2014.
Primetime Emmy nomination for Killing Reagan (or another film)
Another of the adapted films earned O'Reilly a Primetime Emmy Award nomination (listed in sources as a 2015 nomination).
Served as executive producer on documentary series Legends & Lies
From 2015 to 2018 O'Reilly served as an executive producer on the documentary series Legends & Lies.
Brief cameo on Jon Stewart's final Daily Show episode
Appeared jokingly on Jon Stewart's final show in 2015, reflecting ongoing mutual appearances between the hosts.
Published Killing Reagan (co-authored)
Released Killing Reagan (2015), another installment in the 'Killing' series; adapted as a TV film in 2016.
Killing Reagan adapted to television (National Geographic)
Killing Reagan adapted into a television film (aired about 2016) with O'Reilly as executive producer.
Many advertisers withdrew from The O'Reilly Factor
Following reports of settlements, The O'Reilly Factor lost more than half its advertisers within a week; nearly 60 companies pulled ads.
NYT reported multiple sexual misconduct settlements
The New York Times reported that O'Reilly had settled lawsuits involving allegations of sexual misconduct, reporting millions paid in settlements.
Dismissed from Fox News; The O'Reilly Factor ended
Fox News announced O'Reilly would not return amid reports of settlements; The O'Reilly Factor aired its last episode Apr 21 and was rebranded.
Launched No Spin News podcast
Started the No Spin News podcast on Apr 24, 2017 to continue commentary after Fox departure.
Began recurring appearances on Glenn Beck program
In May 2017 began recurring guest appearances on the Glenn Beck Radio Program.
Co-headlined 'The Spin Stops Here' speaking tour with Dennis Miller
Embarked on a public speaking tour with Dennis Miller in June 2017.
Began streaming video version of No Spin News
Expanded No Spin News into a digital streaming video program in August 2017.
Returned to Fox for interview on Sean Hannity
Made a post-termination appearance on Fox News, interviewed by Sean Hannity on Sept 26, 2017.
NYT follow-up reporting on additional undisclosed settlement
Subsequent reporting revealed additional large settlements (including reports of a $32M settlement with Lis Wiehl), expanding total disclosed payouts.
Rachel Witlieb Bernstein sued for defamation and breach of contract
A woman who had reached a settlement in 2002 sued O'Reilly and Fox claiming nondisclosure terms were violated; other accusers joined the suit later in 2017.
Federal judge denied motion to seal settlement agreements
In April 2018 a judge denied O'Reilly's motion to seal settlement documents, allowing additional details to become public.
Marist College honorary degree revoked
Marist College, which had previously bestowed an honorary degree on O'Reilly, later revoked it after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced.
Launched 'The O'Reilly Update' 15-minute radio show
Started a daily 15-minute radio series called The O'Reilly Update distributed to many stations, airing near lunchtime.
No Spin News simulcast on Newsmax TV
By 2020 simulcasts of No Spin News began airing on Newsmax TV as part of expanding the show's television presence.
No Spin News began airing on The First
In June 2020 No Spin News began airing on The First television network.
Started 'Common Sense with Bill O'Reilly' on 77WABC
In September 2020 launched a daily radio show on New York's 77WABC titled Common Sense with Bill O'Reilly.
Participated in speaking tour with former President Donald Trump
Joined Donald Trump on a December 2021 speaking tour, claiming to offer inside views of his administration.
Continued publishing in 'Killing' series
Published later installments in the Killing series (e.g. Killing the Legends 2022) and continued to be a prolific bestselling author.
Key Achievement Ages
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