Montel Williams was born on July 3, 1956 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the host of the show The Montel Williams Show for 17 years on television. He also was the host of the radio showMontel Across America from 2009 until early 2010 when Air America ceased operations.http://www.avclub.com/articles/air-america-flies-away-for-good,37363/
The television show 's last episode aired in May 2008. It happened after CBS TV Distribution terminated The Montel Williams Show when key Fox-owned stations chose not to renew it for the 2008-09 season.http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117979859.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 It has been alleged that this resulted in part from an appearance on the show, Fox & Friends in which Williams criticized the media's lack of coverage on the Iraq War, and took the hosts to task for their excessive coverage (along with the media in general) of the death of actor Heath Ledger, contrasted with the sparse coverage of U.S. soldiers dying in Iraq. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/31/23326/1083/699/446791
Williams suffers from Multiple Sclerosis. He runs a foundation, the Montel Williams MS Foundation, which has distributed more than $1.5 million to various medical organizations and institutions doing research on finding a cure for multiple sclerosis. http://www.montelms.org/TheFoundation
On February 17, 2009, the radio network Air America announced Williams would host a show named Montel Across America on the network which debuted on April 6, 2009. The same day, Williams spoke about life with MS on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.http://www.oprah.com/health/Montel-Williams-Battle-with-MS-Overcoming-Depression-and-Pain On January 25, 2010, Air America ceased operations, leaving Williams out of a home for his show.http://www.avclub.com/articles/air-america-flies-away-for-good,37363/
Williams has also been a spokesperson for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a patient-assistance program clearinghouse that helps low-income patients apply for free or reduced-priced prescription drugs. http://www.pparx.org/en/news_and_media/press_releases/2007/patients_join_Montel_in_DC Prior to his time on television, he spent twelve years in the United States Navy achieving the rank of lieutenant commander before leaving the service in 1988.http://www.military.com/Careers/Content1?file=trans_montel_williams.htm&area=Content
Montel Williams vs. Fox News
Montel Williams battles with anchors from the Fox News Channel about excessive coverage of the death of Heath Ledger and the subsequent lack of coverage regarding the war in Iraq. Just days after the incident, it was announced that his show would not be picked up for another season.
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Fast Facts
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Born
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Served in the U.S. Navy for 12 years
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The show's last episode aired in May 2008
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His show Montel Across America debuted on April 6, 2009 on Air America
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Suffers from Multiple Sclerosis
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Talked about his struggle with MS on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show on March 17, 2009
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Married Tara Fowler Saturday October 6, 2007 in Bermuda
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Has previously been married two times
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Has two daughters, Ashley and Maressa, with his first wife Rochele See, and two additional children with his second wife Grace Morley
