John Dennis Patrick O'Brian (August 16, 1914 – November 5, 2000) was an American entertainment journalist best known for his longtime role as a television critic for New York Journal American.[1]
Jack O'Brian | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Dennis Patrick O'Brian August 16, 1914 |
| Died | November 5, 2000 (aged 86) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist for Buffalo Courier-Express, Associated Press, New York Journal American, WOR |
Career edit
A supporter of Senator Joseph McCarthy, O'Brian wrote a series of red-baiting attacks on CBS News and WCBS TV reporter Don Hollenbeck, accusing him of having Communist sympathies. These attacks may have been a major factor in Hollenbeck's eventual suicide in 1954, and are referenced in the 1986 film Murrow and the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck.[2][3]
After the death of Dorothy Kilgallen, his colleague at the Journal American, in November 1965, O'Brian took over her old Voice of Broadway column.[4]
Personal and death edit
O'Brian was married to Yvonne Johnston, who died in 1996. They were the parents of two daughters, Bridget and Kate O'Brian, who was president of Al Jazeera America.[5]
References edit
- ^ Ortega, Tony (April 11, 2008). "Steve Allen on Jack O'Brian". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ CBS's Don Hollenbeck : an honest reporter in the age of McCarthyism. 2008.
- ^ Jensen, Elizabeth (17 October 2008). "Remembering a Forgotten Newsman". The New York Times.
- ^ Martin, Douglas (November 8, 2000). "Jack O'Brian, 86, Columnist Of the Entertainment World". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ "It's Summertime". New York Social Diary. July 24, 2013. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
External links edit
- *"The Man with the Popular Mind". Time. November 20, 1964. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
- Finding aid to the Jack O’Brian papers at Columbia University. Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
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