Howard Allan Stern (born January 12, 1954) is an American radio and television personality, producer, author, actor, and photographer. He is best known as the host of
The Howard Stern Show, his long-running radio show which gained popularity when it was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1986 to 2005 before its move to
Sirius XM Radio in 2006. Stern first wished to be on the radio at five years of age. He landed his first radio jobs while at
Boston University—
WTBU, the campus station, and
WNTN in
Newton,
Massachusetts. From 1976 to 1982, Stern developed his on-air personality through morning positions at
WRNW in
Briarcliff Manor, New York,
WCCC in
Hartford,
Connecticut,
WWWW in
Detroit,
Michigan, and
WWDC in
Washington, D.C. Stern worked afternoons at
WNBC in
New York City from 1982 until his firing in 1985.