P. J. O'Rourke
Born 1947 · Age 78
American author, journalist, and political satirist; wrote 20+ books, longtime Rolling Stone foreign-affairs desk chief, National Lampoon editor, and NPR panelist.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Toledo, Ohio
Patrick Jake "P. J." O'Rourke was born in Toledo, Ohio to Delphine (née Loy) and Clifford Bronson O'Rourke.
Graduated Thomas A. DeVilbiss High School
Completed secondary education in Toledo, Ohio (DeVilbiss High School).
Earned undergraduate degree, Miami University
Received undergraduate degree from Miami University (Ohio).
Awarded Woodrow Wilson Fellowship
Received a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship used to attend Johns Hopkins University's Writing Seminars.
Earned M.A. in English, Johns Hopkins University
Completed Master of Arts in English (Writing Seminars) at Johns Hopkins University.
Published in underground press (Rip Off Review)
Wrote 'A.J. at N.Y.U.' for The Rip Off Review of Western Culture and contributed to underground newspapers like Harry and the New York Ace.
Joined National Lampoon magazine
Began working at National Lampoon; wrote humor pieces and participated in parodies that became influential in comedy.
Art Directors Club Merit Award (visual excellence)
Received a Merit Award from the Art Directors Club for work associated with National Lampoon (listed among visual awards).
Co-wrote National Lampoon 1964 High School Yearbook Parody
Co-authored the parody yearbook with Doug Kenney; later cited as inspiration for Animal House.
Gold Award for National Lampoon work
Received a Gold Award (1975) for National Lampoon visual/creative work (cited in biographical sources).
Became National Lampoon managing editor (approx.)
Served as managing editor at National Lampoon during mid-1970s (sources cite managing/editor roles around this time).
Merit Award, Society of Publication Designers (visual awards)
Received a Merit Award for visual excellence connected to National Lampoon work (sources list awards in mid-1970s).
Named editor-in-chief, National Lampoon
Served as editor-in-chief at National Lampoon and edited parody projects such as the Sunday Newspaper Parody (with John Hughes).
Edited National Lampoon Sunday Newspaper Parody
Co-edited the 1978 National Lampoon Sunday Newspaper Parody with John Hughes.
Writing credit: National Lampoon's 'Lemmings' (stage/production)
Received a writing credit for Lemmings, a National Lampoon production that helped launch several comedy careers.
Published 'How to Drive Fast on Drugs...' (National Lampoon)
Gonzo-style humor piece first published March 1979; later republished in his books Republican Party Reptile and Driving Like Crazy.
Left National Lampoon; went freelance and worked on Easy Money screenplay
Left Lampoon to pursue freelance journalism; worked on Rodney Dangerfield's film Easy Money (screenplay credit).
Screenplay work: 'Easy Money' (Rodney Dangerfield film)
Worked on screenplays in Hollywood, including Rodney Dangerfield's Easy Money (1981).
Trip to the Soviet Union and pivot to foreign correspondence
Sent on a trip to the Soviet Union by Michael Kinsley; decided to become a foreign correspondent.
Published first major book 'Modern Manners'
Modern Manners: An Etiquette Book for Rude People published (original edition 1983).
Became Rolling Stone foreign-affairs desk chief (start)
Took the role of foreign affairs desk chief at Rolling Stone, beginning his long tenure reporting from many countries (sources list mid-1980s start).
Published 'The Bachelor Home Companion'
Released The Bachelor Home Companion (paperback edition and later hardcover references vary).
Published 'Republican Party Reptile'
Published a collection of essays and reporting that helped establish his voice as a funny conservative.
Published 'Holidays in Hell'
Travel reporting and essays from dangerous and chaotic places compiled in Holidays in Hell.
Merit & Gold awards for National Lampoon (historical awards)
Earlier career recognitions include Art Directors Club merit award (1973), Gold Award (1975) and other honors for visual excellence tied to National Lampoon.
Married Amy Lumet
Married Amy Lumet (daughter of director Sidney Lumet); marriage lasted 1990–1993.
Face of British Airways adverts (1990s)
In the UK, O'Rourke was the face of a long-running British Airways advertising campaign during the 1990s.
Published 'Parliament of Whores' (No.1 NYT Bestseller)
Parliament of Whores (A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government) published and reached No.1 on The New York Times bestseller list.
Published 'Give War a Chance' (No.1 NYT Bestseller)
Give War a Chance compiled reporting and commentary on conflict and geopolitics; reached No.1 on The New York Times bestseller list.
Published 'All the Trouble in the World'
Released All the Trouble in the World, a book exploring global crises humorously.
Mentioned in Forbes Media Guide Five Hundred
Forbes Media Guide Five Hundred (1994) praised his original reporting, humor, and writing.
Published 'Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence, and a Bad Haircut'
Collection / retrospective published marking 25 years of O'Rourke's writing.
Married Tina Mallon
Married Tina Mallon; subsequently had three children (two daughters and a son).
Served as conservative commentator on 60 Minutes
Appeared in the point-counterpoint segment of 60 Minutes as conservative commentator (1996).
Published 'The American Spectator's Enemies List' (revised 1996)
Compiled and annotated list published reflecting political commentary work.
C-SPAN presentation: 'Eat the Rich'
Presented on Eat the Rich on C-SPAN (Sep 15, 1998).
Published 'Eat the Rich: A Treatise on Economics'
Released Eat the Rich, reporting on economics and global capitalism.
Booknotes interview on 'Eat the Rich'
Appeared on C-SPAN's Booknotes for an interview about Eat the Rich (Jan 3, 1999).
Transitioning Rolling Stone tenure (approx. end)
Sources cite O'Rourke as Rolling Stone foreign-affairs desk chief through around 2000–2001; marked end of long tenure covering ~50 countries and numerous conflicts.
Published 'The CEO of the Sofa'
Published a book of essays and commentary reflecting on the Clinton/early-2000s era.
End of Rolling Stone foreign-affairs desk chief tenure (approx.)
Sources indicate O'Rourke remained foreign-affairs desk chief at Rolling Stone until about 2000–2001, marking the end of a long chapter.
C-SPAN presentation: 'The CEO of the Sofa'
Presented on The CEO of the Sofa on C-SPAN (Nov 10, 2001).
Contributor and commentator roles expand (Cato, anthologies)
Contributed to Cato Institute books and anthologies; association with libertarian think tanks grew (H. L. Mencken Fellow later noted).
Affiliation: H. L. Mencken Fellow, Cato Institute (approx.)
Associated with the Cato Institute as an H. L. Mencken fellow and contributor to libertarian policy discussions and publications (dates approximate in early 2000s).
Coverage following Iraq War and related commentary
Continued foreign reporting and commentary post-2003 Iraq invasion; part of broader reportage collected in later works.
Published 'Peace Kills: America's Fun New Imperialism'
Book about post-Cold War foreign policy, Kosovo, 9/11, Iraq and American interventions.
C-SPAN presentation: 'Peace Kills'
Presented on Peace Kills on C-SPAN (Jun 22, 2004).
Published 'On the Wealth of Nations: Books That Changed the World'
Part of Atlantic Books' series: commentary on Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.
Real Time Real Reporter for Bill Maher (2008 election)
Served as the 'Real Time Real Reporter' for Real Time with Bill Maher covering the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
Announced diagnosis of treatable rectal cancer
Publicly announced diagnosis of rectal cancer and expressed high expected survival (reported ~95% chance).
Published 'Driving Like Crazy'
Collection of vehicle- and car-themed journalism spanning three decades; includes earlier 'How to Drive Fast...' piece.
C-SPAN presentation: 'Driving Like Crazy'
Presented on Driving Like Crazy on C-SPAN (Jun 13, 2009).
Published 'Don't Vote! – It Just Encourages the Bastards'
Book examining the principles of the political system and arguing satirically about participation.
C-SPAN presentation: 'Don't Vote! – It Just Encourages the Bastards'
Presented on Don't Vote! on C-SPAN (Nov 3, 2010).
Longtime panelist on NPR's 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!' (ongoing by 2011)
Served as a longtime panelist on NPR's news quiz show, contributing humor and commentary to a broad audience.
Published 'Holidays in Heck'
Released Holidays in Heck, follow-up to earlier travel-essays collections.
Columnist for The Daily Beast (start: 2011)
Wrote a regular column for The Daily Beast from 2011 until 2016.
Published 'The Baby Boom: How It Got That Way'
Book about the baby boomer generation and its cultural impact.
C-SPAN presentation: 'The Baby Boom'
Presented on The Baby Boom book on C-SPAN (Jan 15, 2014).
C-SPAN: 'Thrown Under the Omnibus' presentation
Presented on the book Thrown Under the Omnibus on C-SPAN (Nov 22, 2015).
End of Daily Beast column role (approx.)
Served as a columnist for The Daily Beast from 2011 until approximately 2016, when that regular role concluded.
Endorsed Hillary Clinton (hate-endorsement)
Publicly 'hate-endorsed' Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump, acknowledging disagreement but preferring her within normal political parameters (reported May 2016).
Independent Institute appearances and gala participation
Acted as speaker and participant at Independent Institute events, including the 30th Anniversary Gala and panels in 2017; noted as a founding advisor to the Independent Institute.
C-SPAN presentation: 'How the Hell Did This Happen?'
Presented on his book about the 2016 election on C-SPAN (Mar 27, 2017).
Published 'None of My Business'
A book explaining money, banking, debt, equity and personal finance with his trademark humor.
C-SPAN presentation: 'None of My Business'
Presented on None of My Business (Sep 2, 2018).
Published 'A Cry from the Far Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land'
Latest major collection of essays and dispatches about political and cultural divides in America.
C-SPAN interview: 'A Cry from the Far Middle'
Interview/presentation on A Cry from the Far Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land (Sep 15, 2020).
Career summary: 22 books, major media roles
By the end of his life O'Rourke had authored ~22 books, served as Rolling Stone foreign-affairs desk chief, National Lampoon editor-in-chief, longtime NPR panelist, and contributor to many major publications.
Died in Sharon, New Hampshire
P. J. O'Rourke died from lung cancer at his home in Sharon, New Hampshire at age 74.
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