Bill O'Reilly | |
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![]() O'Reilly in 2010 | |
Born | William James O'Reilly Jr. September 10, 1949 New York City, U.S. |
Education | Marist College (BA) Boston University (MA) Harvard University (MPA) |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1975–present |
Political party | Republican (before 2001) Independence (2001–present) |
Spouse |
Maureen McPhilmy
(m. 1996; div. 2011) |
Children | 2 |
Website | billoreilly |
This article is part of a series on |
Conservatism in the United States |
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William James O'Reilly Jr.[1] (born September 10, 1949) is an American conservative commentator, journalist, author, and television host.
O'Reilly's broadcasting career began during the late 1970s and 1980s, when he reported for local television stations in the United States and later for CBS News and ABC News, the former of which earned O'Reilly two Emmy Awards and two National Headliner Awards for excellence in reporting.[2] He anchored the tabloid television program Inside Edition from 1989 to 1995. O'Reilly joined the Fox News Channel in 1996 and hosted the news commentary program The O'Reilly Factor until 2017. The O'Reilly Factor had been the highest-rated cable news show for 16 years, and he was described by media analyst Howard Kurtz as "the biggest star in the 20-year history at Fox News" at the time of his departure.[8]
During his time at Fox News, he appeared several times as a guest on the Comedy Central talk show The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Together he and Jon Stewart debated for a charity event, The Rumble in the Air-Conditioned Auditorium at George Washington University in 2012.[9] O'Reilly interviewed President Barack Obama before Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.[10] He co-authored with Martin Dugard numerous The New York Times bestselling historical novels including Killing Lincoln (2011), Killing Kennedy (2012), Killing Jesus (2013), and Killing Reagan (2015), which were adapted into National Geographic television films in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Two of the films earned O'Reilly nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards.[11] He also hosted The Radio Factor from 2002 to 2009.[12]
In 2017, O'Reilly was dismissed from Fox News following a report by The New York Times that he had settled five lawsuits involving sexual misconduct.[13] Since then, O'Reilly has hosted the No Spin News podcast where it has also expanded into a television program, first airing on Newsmax, then on The First. He also makes appearances on NewsNation frequently, discussing political topics that arise.[18]