Tom Junod
Born 1958 · Age 67
American longform journalist known for profiles and feature reporting; two-time National Magazine Award winner and James Beard Award winner. Work includes pieces for Esquire, GQ, Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His 1998 Fred Rogers profile inspired the 2019 film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
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Life & Career Timeline
Began college as a freshman at Oneonta State (SUNY Oneonta)
Junod attended Oneonta State as a freshman; his first-semester American Literature course helped spark his interest in serious literature and writing.
Transferred to State University of New York at Albany
Junod transferred to SUNY Albany after two years at Oneonta (timing reported in interviews and bios).
Graduated SUNY Albany with a BA in English
Junod earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the State University of New York at Albany.
Worked as a handbag salesman
After college Junod worked in handbag sales for his father's line, traveling a large territory in the Southwest (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma).
Held up at gunpoint in a hotel room (while a salesman)
While working as a traveling handbag salesman, Junod was held up at gunpoint in a hotel room; this incident prompted him to write a nonfiction account that helped push him toward writing as a career (year estimated early 1980s).
Fired from handbag sales job and moved to Atlanta
After the hotel incident and later being fired (Dallas mentioned in interviews), Junod moved to Atlanta to live with his brother; this relocation preceded his journalism career (date approximate).
Became staff writer for Atlanta magazine
Several bios report that after his early nonfiction work Junod became a staff writer at Atlanta magazine (timing described as 'seven years later' from his initial nonfiction move; year estimated).
Wrote for Life and Sports Illustrated (period)
Junod worked for or contributed to Life and Sports Illustrated during his early-to-mid journalism career (specific dates not always listed).
Won a National Magazine Award (for 'The Abortionist')
Junod received a National Magazine Award from the American Society of Magazine Editors for his GQ profile of John Britton (award tied to that piece; year associated with the piece's publication).
Published 'The Abortionist' in GQ
Junod published 'The Abortionist', a profile of abortion doctor John Britton, in GQ (Feb 1994).
Published 'The Rapist Says He's Sorry' in GQ
Junod published a longform profile of a rapist undergoing therapy (Dec 1995); the piece is widely anthologized and award-winning.
Won a National Magazine Award (for 'The Rapist Says He's Sorry')
Junod received a second National Magazine Award for his GQ profile of a rapist in therapy (award associated with that work; year approximated to award cycle after publication).
Joined Esquire (followed editor David Granger from GQ)
Junod began working at Esquire in 1997 after following editor David Granger from GQ; he became one of Esquire's prominent longform writers.
Published controversial Kevin Spacey profile
Junod published a 1997 Esquire profile of Kevin Spacey that was criticized for outing the actor and was described as 'mean-spirited'; Junod later regretted its tone.
Published Fred Rogers profile 'Can You Say...Hero?' in Esquire
Junod's intimate profile of Fred Rogers ('Can You Say...Hero?') was published in Esquire on Nov 1, 1998; the encounter deeply affected Junod and later inspired a feature film.
Published a satirical/fabricated Michael Stipe piece — came clean later
Junod published a controversial 2001 piece on R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe in which he fabricated an interview; Junod later publicly acknowledged the fabrication.
Published 'The Falling Man' in Esquire
Junod's meditation on the iconic 9/11 photograph 'The Falling Man' was published on Sep 1, 2003 and became one of his most famous and widely read pieces.
Esquire selects 'The Falling Man' as one of magazine's seven best stories
For Esquire's 75th anniversary in 2008, editors named 'The Falling Man' among the magazine's seven best stories in its history.
Published 'My Mom Couldn't Cook' in Esquire
Junod published a personal essay 'My Mom Couldn't Cook' in Esquire (September 2010), a piece later recognized by culinary journalism awards.
Won James Beard Award for 'My Mom Couldn't Cook'
Junod won a James Beard Award (food-writing) for his Esquire essay 'My Mom Couldn't Cook' (essay published 2010; award in 2011).
Presented seminar at NYS Writers Institute (UAlbany)
Junod returned to his alma mater to present a seminar on magazine writing on Sep 10, 2015 (and read from 'The Falling Man' at the NYS Museum on Sep 11, 2015).
Joined ESPN as senior writer
Junod joined ESPN in 2016 and began producing longform, deeply reported journalism for ESPN outlets.
Appeared in documentary 'Won't You Be My Neighbor?'
Junod appeared in the 2018 critically acclaimed documentary about Fred Rogers, which further raised public interest in his Rogers profile.
‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ released (based on his Rogers profile)
The 2019 feature film starring Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys was based on Junod's Fred Rogers Esquire profile; the story renewed attention on Junod's relationship with Rogers.
Emmy nomination for E60 program 'The Hero of Goodall Park' (nomination tied to his reporting)
Junod was nominated for an Emmy for his work on 'The Hero of Goodall Park,' an E60 program about a car that drove onto a Babe Ruth League baseball field in Maine (program about a 2018 incident; nomination reported by ESPN bios).
Profiled/reported for ESPN; listed as writer for ESPN The Magazine
By November 2019 Junod is listed as a writer for ESPN The Magazine; he gave interviews about Rogers and his career in 2019.
Todd Hodne died in prison (subject of future reporting)
Todd Hodne, the serial predator whose crimes Junod later co-reported in a long ESPN piece, died in prison in April 2020 (Junod referenced this when resuming reporting).
Published 'Untold' on Todd Hodne with Paula Lavigne (ESPN)
Junod and ESPN investigative reporter Paula Lavigne published a ~32,000-word investigative piece 'Untold' in 2022 after nearly two years of reporting into Todd Hodne's crimes.
Recognized as a record 11-time National Magazine Award finalist (as noted in bios)
Junod holds a record number of National Magazine Award finalist nominations (11) and has won two; many bios note this as of the mid-2010s and continuing into present.
Sister Cathy died of early-onset Alzheimer's
Junod's sister Cathy died on May 31, 2022 after a nine-year battle with early-onset Alzheimer's; Junod has written about family influences on his work.
Profile and retrospective interviews (ongoing recognition)
Junod continued to be profiled and interviewed about his longform work (e.g., May 2023 ArtSection profile and other retrospectives).
Working on a memoir about his father for Doubleday (in progress)
ESPN and other bios note Junod is working on a memoir about his father for Doubleday (project reported as in-progress; year estimate based on bios).
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