Ann Landers Biography

Journalist. Born Esther Pauline Friedman on July 4, 1918, in Sioux City, Iowa. Using the name “Ann Landers,” she became one of America’s most trusted source of advice for decades through her newspaper column. Growing up, she was close to her twin sister Pauline. The two even went to the same college—Morningside College in Sioux City. But Landers left school to marry Jules W. Lederer in 1939. 

Living in Chicago in the mid-1950s, Landers wanted to do more than be a stay-at-home wife and mother. She noticed an advice column in the The Chicago Sun-Times called “Ask Ann Landers” and inquired about helping the columnist out. It turned out that the previous columnist had died and the paper was looking a replacement. More than 20 people applied, but Eppie Lederer won out to become the next Ann Landers. 

Known for her candid advice often delivered in the form of funny wisecracks, Landers quickly developed a following and her column was soon put into syndication and read by a national audience. In an odd twist of fate, she ended up competing with her sister wrote an advice column under the name “Abigail Van Buren.” The two were estranged for a time over the issue, but later reconciled.

Giving advice on a broad range of topics from martial problems to drug abuse to petty squabbles, Landers answered whatever questions her readers lobbed her way. Landers shared her own struggles with her readers in 1975 when she informed them of her divorce from her husband. He reportedly left her for another woman. Thousands of people wrote in to offer their support to Landers.

Landers also championed personal causes in her column, such as funding for cancer research and ending the war in Vietnam. Some of her views were more controversial with her readers, such as her support for abortion rights and the use of animals in medical research. No matter the response, Landers stuck to her guns and continued to speak her mind. In addition to her column, she authored several books in her famously candid style, including Ann Landers Talks to Teenagers about Sex (1964) and Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (1996).

Over the years, Landers received numerous awards for her contributions to society from mental health and medical organizations, including 1996 Centers for Disease Control Champion of Prevention Award. After more than 25 years as a columnist, Landers died of cancer on June 22, 2002, in Chicago.

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