Quick Facts
- NAME: Bill O'Reilly
- OCCUPATION: Talk Show Host, Journalist
- BIRTH DATE: September 10, 1949 (Age: 63)
- EDUCATION: Marist University, Boston University, Harvard University
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Levittown, New York
- Full Name: William James O'Reilly, Jr.
- ZODIAC SIGN: Virgo
Best Known For
Bill O'Reilly is best known for his cable news program, The O'Reilly Factor, which has been airing on Fox News since 2001, and is also a bestselling author of several books. Until 2009, he ran a popular radio show, The Radio Factor.
Videos see all videos
Bill O'Reilly - Growing Up in America
Watch a short video about Bill O'Reilly and his experiences growing up in America during the 1960's, 70's and 80's.
Quiz
Think you know about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play NowBill O'Reilly. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:29, May 21, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/bill-oreilly-9542547.
Bill O'Reilly. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/bill-oreilly-9542547 [Accessed 21 May 2013].
"Bill O'Reilly." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 21 2013, 04:29 http://www.biography.com/people/bill-oreilly-9542547.
"Bill O'Reilly," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/bill-oreilly-9542547 [accessed May 21, 2013].
"Bill O'Reilly," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/bill-oreilly-9542547 (accessed May 21, 2013).
Bill O'Reilly [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 21] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/bill-oreilly-9542547.
Bill O'Reilly, http://www.biography.com/people/bill-oreilly-9542547 (last visited May 21, 2013).
Bill O'Reilly. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/bill-oreilly-9542547. Accessed May 21, 2013.
Synopsis
Bill O'Reilly, born in New York City, started his television career in local news outlets around the country. In his time as a correspondent, he won three Emmy Awards, before moving to Inside Edition, a popular "infotainment" program. When Fox News was created, he was hired to do his own program called, The O'Reilly Factor, which quickly became the most watched cable news program for its conservative commentary and interviews.
Quotes
Americans will respect your beliefs if you just keep them private.
This country is a better place because Fox News has succeeded.
Profile
Commentator, columnist, author. Born in Levittown, New York, O'Reilly graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie with a degree in history. He taught high school for two years in Miami, and then returned to school to earn a master's degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University.
O'Reilly's television news career began in Scranton, Pennsylvania and included local news stops in Dallas, Denver, Portland and Boston. In 1980, he returned to New York to anchor his own program and then to join CBS as a news correspondent. In 1986, he moved to ABC News, where he received two Emmy Awards and two National Headliner Awards for excellence in reporting during his three-year tenure.
O'Reilly's career took a turn in 1989 when he joined the nationally syndicated Inside Edition. For the next five years, Inside Edition was the highest rated "infotainment" program in America. After six years as anchor, O'Reilly left Inside Edition to earn his master's degree in public policy at Harvard University.
Upon leaving Harvard, the startup Fox News Channel hired O'Reilly to do The O'Reilly Factor. With hard-driving interviews, blunt commentary and an oversized ego, O'Reilly deals with the nation's most important issues in an atmosphere referred to as the "No Spin Zone." In 2001, The Factor became the country's most watched cable news program. Shortly thereafter he expanded his media presence to include a weekly syndicated newspaper column and a national radio show called The Radio Factor, which ran from 2002 to 2009.
O'Reilly is also the author of numerous titles, including nonfiction bestsellers like The O'Reilly Factor and The No Spin Zone, as well as novels like Those Who Trespass and controversial presidential thrillers such as Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy.
© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.
profile name: Bill O'Reilly profile occupation:
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Profile Connections
Included In These Groups
-
Famous Irish-Americans 80 people in this group
-
Hotheads
View groupAny press is good press, they say. These celebrities have fame, fortune, and trouble controlling their anger. Some of Hollywood's biggest personalities, they take the drama off-camera into their real lives. Famously feuding with family, staff, and other actors, here are some of the most outrageous Hollywood hotheads.
Hotheads 22 people in this group
-
Famous Virgoans
View groupMichael Jackson is one, so is Stephen King and Greta Garbo. Some say typical traits of Virgoans are helpful, critical, shy, and meticulous. Meet some famous people who share the astrological sign Virgo.
Famous Virgoans 561 people in this group

June Carter Cash
Musical Monikers
Justin Bieber
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived



