Charles Laquidara

Charles Laquidara
Charles Laquidara in Maui, 2009
Born	(1938-11-24) November 24, 1938 (age 78) Milford, Massachusetts
Occupation	Disc jockey, actor, blogger
Spouse(s)	Divorced

Charles Laquidara (born 1938) is an American radio disc jockey whose show, The Big Mattress, was broadcast in the Boston, Massachusetts area for nearly 30 years (1969–1996) on WBCN. He then spent four years doing The Charles Laquidara Radio Hour on WZLX. He currently hosts Charles Laquidara radio, an internet radio station from his home on Maui.

Throughout his career in broadcasting, Laquidara has been known for playing a wide variety of musical styles alongside rock music, including classical, jazz, disco, soul and funk, and for being an outspoken critic of corporate governance and American right-wing politics.

Born in Milford, Massachusetts, Laquidara attended Milford High School, where he was voted "most artistic" in his class. Upon graduation, he attended the Rhode Island School of Design for two years, and then in 1961 moved to Pasadena, California, where he received a bachelor's degree in theater arts at the Pasadena Playhouse. He spent the next eight years in the Los Angeles area, trying to get work as an actor in television and films. His successes in the acting field were limited to several stage roles and one appearance as a contestant on The Dating Game. He lost, but was awarded a tape recorder as a consolation prize. He was also considered for the lead in the film, The Boston Strangler, along with Alan Bates and Tony Curtis, but Curtis was ultimately awarded the lead role as Albert DeSalvo.