Who Is Don Imus? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Don Imus was born on July 23, 1940, and passed away in 2019. Known for his sharp wit and controversial remarks, Imus had a prolific career in radio that spanned several decades. He became a radio icon, celebrated for his unique blend of humor, news commentary, and celebrity interviews. Imus's influence extended beyond radio, intersecting with television and philanthropy, where he was known for his charitable efforts, particularly in support of cancer research.
| Occupation | Radio Host |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 23, 1940 |
| Age | 79 Years |
| Birth Place | Riverside, California, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 27 December, 2019 |
| Died Place | College Station, Texas, U.S. |
Popularity
Don Imus's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
At the time of his passing, Don Imus stood at an impressive height of approximately 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) and maintained a weight around 175 pounds (79 kg). Throughout his career, Imus often emphasized the importance of staying fit and led a healthy lifestyle, which contributed to his longevity in the demanding world of radio broadcasting.
"That phrase didn't originate in the White community. That phrase originated in the Black community. Young Black women all through that society are demeaned and disparaged and disrespected by their own Black men, and they are called that name in Black hip hop."
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
During his lifetime, Don Imus was married three times. His most notable union was with Deirdre Imus, whom he married in 1994. The couple shared a deep bond and collaborated on various projects, including charity work through the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer. They remained together until his passing. Imus also had children from previous relationships, contributing to a diverse family life that he often spoke about in his broadcasts.
and Frances E. Imus ( Moore) who ran a 35000 acre ranch named The Willows near Kingman, Arizona. Imus claimed at one time to practice Judaism then later recanted, calling himself, "spiritual." He had a younger brother, Fred Imus (1942–2011).
Imus disliked school, moving "from one hideous private school to another" and described himself as a "horrible adolescent". When he was 15, his parents divorced. His father died when Imus was 20.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Don Imus had an estimated net worth of around $40 million. His wealth was attributed to his successful career in radio, where he earned significant salaries from his shows, including the highly-rated "Imus in the Morning." Additionally, Imus made considerable financial gains through his various business ventures, including investments in media and endorsements.
On December 2, 1971, less than three years into his radio career, Imus started his morning show at WNBC in New York City, with a $100,000 annual salary which was said to have been double his WGAR salary. On his second day, he overslept and missed the show. Imus was involved in various projects during his time at WNBC.
In March 1973, he began a stand-up comedy and stage act called Imus in the Evening; his first shows were held at The Bitter End in New York City. On January 30, 1974 he appeared as himself (a patient at Hope Memorial with a broken leg from skiing while on vacation from his radio show) on the NBC-TV daytime soap opera The Doctors.
By the early 1980s, he was earning as much as $10,000 a performance. Imus retired his stand-up in December 1985. He released three albums containing radio segments and songs: 1200 Hamburgers to Go (1972), One Sacred Chicken to Go (1973), and This Honky's Nuts (1974).
The latter features material from his stand-up comedy at Jimmy's Club in Manhattan.
Career, Business, and Investments
Don Imus's career began in the early 1970s and included stints at various radio stations across the United States. His breakthrough came with “Imus in the Morning,” which aired on multiple networks for decades. Beyond radio, Imus ventured into television, appearing on networks such as MSNBC and later hosting his own programs.
Imus was also known for his entrepreneurial spirit, investing in various business ventures throughout his life. Some of these included restaurants, books, and his philanthropic foundation, which aimed to help children battling cancer. His business acumen allowed him to create a lasting legacy in both entertainment and charitable endeavors.
Imus began his first radio job at KUTY in Palmdale, California in 1968. Three years later, he landed the morning broadcast position at WNBC in New York City. He was fired from WNBC in 1977, worked for a year at WHK in Cleveland, and was rehired by WNBC in 1979.
He remained at WNBC until it left the air in 1988, at which time his show moved to WFAN, which took over WNBC's former frequency of 660 kHz. Howard Stern's success with national syndication led Imus in the Morning to adopt the same model in 1993.
Social Network
While social media platforms did not exist during the height of Don Imus's career, he had a significant presence in the media landscape. His relationships with celebrities and politicians often made headlines, and he was known for leveraging his influence to advocate for various causes. In 2025, one could imagine that many organizations and individuals would still reference his work and contributions to media and charity on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, discussing the impact he made.
Imus then had a brief tenure at KJOY in Stockton, California, from which he was fired due to an incident that some sources attributed to his Eldridge Cleaver look-a-like contest in which the winner would be incarcerated for a year. Other sources suggest the firing was because of his saying "hell" and multiple raunchy jokes on-air.
Imus moved to KXOA in Sacramento, California, whose management team—including general manager Jack G. Thayer and program director John Lund—both left for identical positions at Cleveland station WGAR and took Imus with them.
Thayer and Lund were hired by WGAR to revamp the station's old-line middle of the road (MOR) format, and had Imus as the centerpiece for their new adult contemporary format that had been developed at KXOA. Imus's tenure at WGAR lasted for less than 15 months but immediately showed success.
The October/November 1970 Arbitron ratings listed Imus at number one in the 18–49 demo, ahead of WKYC's Jim Runyon and WJW's Ed Fisher; WGAR as a whole topped both the 25–34 and 25–49 demos. Imus was honored by Billboard as the number one radio personality for 1971, an honor he shared with KMPC's Gary Owens.
Education
Don Imus attended the University of Arizona, although he did not complete his degree. His time at university marked the beginning of his journey in broadcasting. Imus's life experiences and self-education through reading and cultural engagement were pivotal in shaping his distinctive personality and the style of his broadcasts.
In 1957, while living in Prescott, Arizona, Imus dropped out of high school and joined the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he was in an artillery unit before transferring to the Drum and Bugle Corps.
He left the Marines with an honorable discharge, and secured work as a window dresser in San Bernardino, before he was fired for performing strip teases on the mannequins for passersby.
Imus then moved to Hollywood with his brother in an attempt to find success as musicians and songwriters, but they struggled to get radio DJs to play their songs on the air. This left Imus homeless, resorting to sleeping in a laundry and hitchhiking back to Arizona.
After dropping out of the University of the Pacific, Imus worked as a brakeman on the Southern Pacific Railroad and in a uranium mine in Arizona. He suffered a mining accident that broke both of his legs.
