Guide Note

Garrison Keillor is an American radio personality and author.

Fast Facts

1. Birth name: Gary Edward Keillor
2. Born: August 7, 1942
3. Birthplace: Anoka, Minnesota
4. Spouses: Mary Guntzel (1965 - 1976), Ulla Skaerved (1985 - 1990), Jenny Lind Nilsson (1995 - present)
5. Children: Jason, Maia
6. Bookstore: Common Good Books
7. Syndication: 500 stations
8. Award: Radio Hall of Fame

Garrison Keillor began his radio broadcasting career in 1969 as the morning drive-time personality at what would become Minnesota Public Radio. He resigned briefly in 1971, only to return after several months to launch A Prairie Home Companion. Except for a hiatus from 1987 - 1993, the show has run weekly since it debuted.

Keillor has been a successful essayist, columnist, journalist, and novelist for nearly as long as he's been a radio personality. He has written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and Salon.com. He starred in and wrote the screenplay for Robert Altman's last film, A Prairie Home Companion.

• 1971 - present: A Prairie Home Companion
• 1985: Lake Wobegon Days
• 1989: We Are Still Married
• 1991: WLT: A Radio Romance
• 2006: A Prairie Home Companion

"It's been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, my home town, out there on the edge of the prairie..."—Opening line of The News From Lake Wobegon monologues by Garrison Keillor¹

"That's the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."—Closing line of The News From Lake Wobegon monologues by Garrison Keillor¹

"“Be well, do good work, and keep in touch”—Closing line of The Writer's Almanac audio essays by Garrison Keillor²