Garrison Keillor Biography

Radio personality, writer. Born Gary Edward Keillor on August 7, 1942, in Anoka, Minnesota. Garrison Keillor is best known for his work on his radio variety show A Prairie Home Companion. He studied at Minnesota University, became a radio announcer, then began writing for The New Yorker.

In 1969, Keillor hosted a morning radio program on Minnesota Public Radio, which was called A Prairie Home Companion. Five years later, he transformed the show into a live broadcast, borrowing the name from his earlier program. And it is still going strong today after a brief hiatus from 1987 to 1989. A popular part of A Prairie Home Companion is Keillor’s weekly monologue set in the quiet, fictional Minnesota town of Lake Wobegon, “where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.” The show also features musical guests, imaginary commercials, and skits.

With its offbeat mix of humor, heart, and song, A Prairie Home Companion has developed a substantial following with more than 4 million people a week tuning in to hear the show.  Keillor also turned the show into a major motion picture directed by the late, legendary Robert Altman. In addition to writing the screenplay, he also appeared in the film alongside the likes of Meryl Streep, Lindsay Lohan, and Kevin Kline. 

In addition to his popular program, Keillor is a well-regarded writer. His books include Happy To Be Here (1981), the best-selling Lake Wobegon Days (1985), Leaving Home (1987), We Are Still Married (1989), and WLT: A Radio Romance (1992). Most recently, he had two works of fiction published: Pontoon: a Lake Wobegon Novel (2007) and the children’s book Daddy’s Girl (2007).

Keillor is currently married to musician Jenny Lind Nilsson. The couple has a daughter. He also has a son from his first marriage.