AdminDave Barry Biography | Dave Barry
Dave Barry(full name: David McAlister Barry) is an American author and columnist who wrote a nationally syndicated humor column for the Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005. He has also written numerous books of humor and parody, as well as comic novels. Barry’s honors include the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary (1988) and the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism (2005).
Barry has defined a sense of humor as “a measurement of the extent to which we realize that we are trapped in a world almost totally devoid of reason. Laughter is how we express the anxiety we feel at this knowledge.”
Dave Barry Age
David McAlister Barry is 71 years old as of 2018. He was born on 3 July 1947, in Armonk, New York, United States
Dave Barry Image
dave-barry PhotoDave Barry Early life and education
Barry was born in Armonk, New York, where his father, David, was a Presbyterian minister. He was educated at Wampus Elementary School, Harold C. Crittenden Junior High School (both in Armonk), and Pleasantville High School, where he was elected “Class Clown” in 1965. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Haverford College in 1969.
As an alumnus of a Quaker-affiliated college, he avoided military service during the Vietnam War by registering as a religious conscientious objector. Notwithstanding his father’s vocation, Barry decided “early on” that he was an atheist. He said, “The problem with writing about religion is that you run the risk of offending sincerely religious people, and then they come after you with machetes.”
Dave Barry Personal life | Married | Wife
Barry married Lois Ann Shelnutt in 1969. He next married Beth Lenox, in 1976. Barry and Lenox worked together at the Daily Local News, where they began their journalism careers on the same day in September 1971; they had one child, Robert, born October 8, 1980. Barry and Lenox divorced in 1993.
Barry experienced tragedy in his family; his father David W and his youngest brother suffered alcoholism, and his father died in 1984, his sister Mary Katherine was institutionalized for schizophrenia, and his mother committed suicide in 1987. In 1996, Barry married Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman; they had a daughter, Sophie, in 2000. Barry has had dogs named Earnest, Zippy, and now Lucy. All have been mentioned regularly in Barry’s columns.
Dave Barry Writing career
Barry began his journalism career in 1971, working as a general-assignment reporter for the Daily Local News in West Chester, Pennsylvania, near his alma mater, Haverford College. He covered local government and civic events and was promoted to City Editor after about two years. He also started writing a weekly humor column for the paper and began to develop his unique style. He remained at the newspaper through 1974. He then worked briefly as a copy editor at the Associated Press’s Philadelphia bureau before joining Burger Associates, a consulting firm.
At Burger, he taught effective writing to business people. In his own words, he “spent nearly eight years trying to get various businesspersons to…stop writing things like ‘Enclosed please find the enclosed enclosures,’ but…eventually realized that it was hopeless.”
In 1981 he wrote a humorous guest column in the Philadelphia Inquirer about watching the birth of his son, which attracted the attention of Gene Weingarten, then an editor of the Miami Herald’s Sunday magazine Tropic. Weingarten hired Barry as a humor columnist in 1983. Barry’s column was syndicated nationally. Barry won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1988 for “his consistently effective use of humor as a device for presenting fresh insights into serious concerns.”
Barry’s first novel, Big Trouble, was published in 1999. The book was adapted into a motion picture directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starring Tim Allen, Rene Russo, and Patrick Warburton, with a cameo by Barry (deleted in post-production). The movie was originally due for release in September 2001 but was postponed following September 11, 2001, attacks because the story involved smuggling a nuclear weapon onto an airplane. The film was released in April 2002.
In response to a column in which Barry mocked the cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, for calling themselves the “Grand Cities”, Grand Forks named a sewage pumping station after Barry in January 2002. Barry traveled to Grand Forks for the dedication ceremony.
Articles written by Barry have appeared in publications such as Boating, Home Office Computing, and Reader’s Digest, in addition to the Chicken Soup for the Soul inspirational book series. Two of his articles have been included in the Best American Sportswriting series. One of his columns was used as the introduction to the book Pirattitude!: So You Wanna Be a Pirate? Here’s How! (ISBN 0-451-21649-0), a follow-up to Barry’s role in publicizing International Talk Like a Pirate Day. His books have frequently appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List.
On October 31, 2004, Barry announced that he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence of at least a year from his weekly column in order to spend more time with his family. In December 2005, Barry said in an interview with Editor and Publisher that he would not resume his weekly column, although he would continue such features as his yearly gift guide, his year-in-review feature, and his blog, as well as an occasional article or column.
In 2005, Barry won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
On Sunday, September 22, 2013, the opening night of the 15th annual Fall for the Book festival in Fairfax, Virginia, Barry was awarded the event’s highest honor, the Fairfax Prize, honoring outstanding literary achievement, presented by the Fairfax Library Foundation.
Dave’s World television series
From 1993 to 1997, CBS broadcast the sitcom Dave’s World based on the books Dave Barry Turns 40 and Dave Barry’s Greatest Hits. The show starred Harry Anderson as Barry and DeLane Matthews as his wife Beth. In an early episode, Barry appeared in a cameo role. After four seasons, the program was canceled shortly after being moved from Monday to the “Friday night death slot”.
Dave Barry Music
During college, Barry was in a band called the Federal Duck. While at the Miami Herald, he and several of his colleagues created a band called the Urban Professionals, with Barry on lead guitar and vocals. They performed an original song called “The Tupperware Song” at the Tupperware headquarters in Orlando, Florida.
Beginning in 1992, Barry played lead guitar in the Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock band made up of published authors. (Remainder is a publishing term for a book that doesn’t sell.) The band was founded by Barry’s sister-in-law, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, for an American Booksellers Association convention, and has also included Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount Jr., Barbara Kingsolver, Matt Groening, and Barry’s brother Sam, among others.
The band’s members “are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud,” according to Barry. Several high-profile musicians, including Al Kooper, Warren Zevon, and Roger McGuinn, have performed with the band, and Bruce Springsteen sat in at least once. The band’s road tour resulted in the book Mid-Life Confidential: The Rock Bottom Remainders Tour America with Three Chords and an Attitude. The Rock Bottom Remainders disbanded in 2012 following Goldmark’s death from breast cancer. They have reunited several times, performing at the Tucson Festival of books in 2016 and 2018.
Dave Barry Other activities
Beginning in 1984, Barry and Tropic editors Gene Weingarten and Tom Shroder have organized the Tropic Hunt (now the Herald Hunt), an annual puzzlehunt in Miami. A Washington, D.C., spinoff, the Post Hunt, began in 2008.
Barry has run several mock campaigns for President of the United States, running on a libertarian platform. He has also written for the Libertarian Party’s national newsletter.
The screen adaptation of Barry’s book Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys was released in 2005; it is available on DVD.
Dave Barry Books
Lessons From Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog 2018, Big Trouble 1999, Insane City 2013, Peter and the Starcatchers 2004, Dave Barry’s Complete guide to guys 1988, Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of History of the United States 1989, Dave Barry Is Not Making This Up 1994, Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland 2016, The Worst Class Trip Ever 2015, Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs 1997, Tricky business 2002, Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer Is Much Faster): Life Lessons and Other Ravings from Dave Barry 2015, You Can Date Boys When You’re Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About 2014, I’ll Mature When I’m Dead 2010, Dave Barry Turns 50 1998, Dave Barry’s Only Travel Guide You’ll Ever Need 1991, Dave Barry in Cyberspace 1996, Dave Barry is Not Taking This Sitting Down! 2000.
Lunatics 2012, Dave Barry’s money secrets 2006, Boogers Are My Beat 2003, Dave Barry Does Japan 1992 The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog 2006, Dave Barry Turns 40 1990, Dave Barry hits below the Beltway 2001, Dave Barry is from Mars and Venus 1997, The Bridge to Never Land 2011, Peter and the Shadow Thieves 2006, Dave Barry’s History of the Millennium (So Far) 2007, Peter and the Sword of Mercy 2009, Peter and the Secret of Rundoon 2007, The Worst Night Ever 2016, Homes and other black holes 1988, Babies & other hazards of sex ; how to make a tiny person in only 9 months, with tools you probably have around the home 1984, Science Fair 2008, Claw Your Way to the Top 1987, Dave Barry Talks Back 1991.
Cave of the Dark Wind 2007, Blood Tide 2008, The Taming of the screw 1983, Stay fit & healthy until you’re dead 1985, Dave Barry’s Bad Habits: A 100% Fact-Free Book 1985, Hard Listening: The Greatest Rock Band Ever (of Authors) Tells All 2013, My Teenage Son’s Goal in Life Is to Make Me Feel 3,500 Years Old: And Other Thoughts on Parenting from Dave Barry 2001, Dave Barry’s Guide to Guys 1995, The Greatest Invention in the History of Mankind Is Beer: And Other Manly Insights from Dave Barry 2001, Dave Barry’s Gift Guide to End All Gift Guides 1994, Dave Barry’s guide to marriage and/or sex 1987 The Best of Dave Barry 1993, Dave Barry on Dads 2007 And The world according to Dave Barry 1994
Dave Barry Quotes
The four building blocks of the universe are fire, water, gravel, and vinyl.
Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear.
You can only be young once. But you can always be immature.
Dave Barry Net Worth
Dave Barry is an American author and columnist who has a net worth of $10 million. Dave Barry was born in Armonk, New York in July 1947. From 1983 to 2004 he was a nationally syndicated humor columnist for the Miami Herald. He has written several books including Dave Barry in Cyberspace, Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs, Dave Barry Turns 50, Dave Barry’s History of the Millennium (So Far), I’ll Mature When I’m Dead, Boogers Are My Beat, Big Trouble, Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, Escape from the Carnivale, Cave of the Dark Wind, Science Fair, Peter and the Sword of Mercy, Blood Tide, The Bridge to Neverland, and more. His books Big Trouble, Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys, and Peter and the Starcatchers have been adapted into films. He won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1988.
Dave Barry Movie
- Big Trouble
2002 - Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys
2005 - Voice in the Mirror
1958
Dave Barry Tv Show
- The Looney Tunes Show
Dave Barry Twitter
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).
Recent Years
While he retired from his weekly column in 2005, Barry continues to offer his humorous take on the world through numerous books. He poked fun at popular financial advice books with 2006’s Dave Barry’s Money Secrets: Like: Why Is There a Giant Eyeball on the Dollar?. He found the humor in history, with 2007’s Dave Barry’s History of the Millennium. Barry also has a new novel for 2012, Lunatics, which he wrote with Alan Zweibel.
Barry, however, hasn’t abandoned newspapers altogether. He still contributes special columns occasionally, such as his year in review and annual gift guide.
Dave Barry Instagram
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