Dave Barry biography

Synopsis

Early Years

The son of a Presbyterian minister, Dave Barry grew up wanting to be a writer. His famous sense of humor emerged early on, and he eventually earned the title of Class Clown of his graduating class at Pleasantville High School in 1965. From there, Barry attended Haverford College outside Philadelphia, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1969.

In the early 1970s, Barry landed his first newspaper job at the Daily Local News in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He shifted gears in 1975, taking a position with a consulting company. With Burger Associates, Barry spent years trying to teach business professionals how to be better writers. He still had time to pursue his own work, including creating a humor column for his old newspaper.

Career Takes Off

As his popularity increased, Barry soon attracted the attention of the Miami Herald, and he joined the paper in 1983 as a columnist. That same year his first book, The Taming of the Screw, debuted, providing readers with his own amusing take on the hassles of homeownership. Barry continued to skewer many aspects of modern life in his columns and in his books, including parenting, fitness and corporate life.

In 1988, Barry won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He was selected "for his consistently effective use of humor as a device for presenting fresh insights into serious concerns." Some have compared him to famed humorist Mark Twain, but Barry often humbly described his work as a series of jokes about bodily functions. All humility aside, he crafted columns on every topic, from the lowly toothpick to presidential politics.

Leading Humorist

A member of the Baby Boom generation, Barry's work struck a chord with his peers. Technology, toilets, and his own aging were among the subjects he explored in his work. At his peak, his column appeared in approximately 500 newspapers.

Barry also became a popular character on television for a time. Two of his books, including Dave Barry Turns 40 (1990), served as the inspiration for the hit sitcom Dave's World. The show, which starred Harry Anderson as Barry, ran from 1993 to 1997.

In addition to his columns, Barry also branched out into fiction. He wrote two novels: Big Trouble (1999) and Tricky Business (2002), which were praised for their humor, but chided for their weak plots. Big Trouble was turned into a 2002 film starring Tim Allen and Rene Russo. After years of writing for adults, Barry wrote stories for children with Ridley Pearson. Unsurprising for a man who never seemed to grow up, he explored the character of the famed "lost boy," Peter Pan. Barry and Pearson wrote several novels that served as a prequel to J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, including Peter and the Starcatchers (2004).