Garrison Keillor

Date of Birth: August 7, 1942

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Biography

Garrison Keillor is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio personality best known for creating and hosting the live radio variety show “A Prairie Home Companion,” which aired from 1974 to 2016. Born Gary Edward Keillor, he grew up in Anoka, Minnesota, and showed an early interest in writing and storytelling. Keillor graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in English. His career took off when he began writing for The New Yorker in the 1970s, where his unique blend of wit and nostalgia found a national audience. “A Prairie Home Companion” became a cultural touchstone, blending music, comedy sketches, and Keillor’s signature monologues about the fictional town of Lake Wobegon. The show’s success led to several best-selling books, including “Lake Wobegon Days” and “Leaving Home.” Keillor’s work often reflects a deep appreciation for Midwestern life and has earned him numerous awards, including a Grammy Award and induction into the Radio Hall of Fame.

5 Interesting Facts about Garrison Keillor

1. Garrison Keillor’s real first name is Gary, but he began using Garrison in college to distinguish himself.

2. He has written more than a dozen books, including novels, memoirs, and collections of poetry.

3. Keillor had a cameo appearance in the 2006 film adaptation of “A Prairie Home Companion,” directed by Robert Altman.

4. He has received multiple awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for “Lake Wobegon Days.”

5. Keillor is also a talented singer and often performed musical numbers on his radio show.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Garrison Keillor

1. “A book is a gift you can open again and again.”

2. “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

3. “Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a function.”

4. “Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known.”

5. “Humor is not a trick, not jokes. Humor is a presence in the world—like grace—and shines on everybody.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At his peak, Garrison Keillor’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.

Children

Garrison Keillor has two children: a son, Jason, from his first marriage to Mary Guntzel, and a daughter, Maia Grace, from his third marriage to violinist Jenny Lind Nilsson.