Dean Richards (reporter)
| Dean Richards | |
|---|---|
Richards in 2012
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| Born |
March 31, 1954 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Columbia College Chicago |
| Occupation |
Film Critic/Entertainment Reporter at WGN-TV Radio Host at WGN (AM) |
| Years active | 1975-present |
Dean Richards (born March 31, 1954) is a Chicago film critic and entertainment reporter for WGN-TV and a longtime radio host for WGN (AM) in Chicago.
Now living on Chicago's northwest side, Richards is a native of Chicago's South Shore and West Beverly neighborhoods, Richards graduated from Columbia College Chicago.
Richards began his career in radio in 1975, holding a variety of jobs in Chicago at stations like WLTD (now WCGO), WMRO and WAUR, Aurora; WFYR (now WKSC-FM), WCFL (now WMVP), WIND (AM) and WCLR. In 1984, he also did voiceover work for WPWR-TV Channel 60. From 1985 until 1990, he doubled as operations manager and morning host at the Satellite Music Network, which was based in Chicago's southwest suburbs.
In 1990, Richards joined WNUA in Chicago as a weekend and substitute radio host. In May 1991, Richards remained at WNUA, but took a job as a staff announcer at WGN-TV.
In July 1991, Richards was promoted to become WNUA's morning host after its previous morning host, Yvonne Daniels, died. In the summer of 1994, Richards' contract was not renewed at WNUA. Almost immediately after leaving WNUA, Richards became a fill-in radio host at WGN (AM) in Chicago. In December 1994, the station gave him a Sunday afternoon program of his own.
In the spring of 1995, Richards was promoted to become WGN's production director, primarily overseeing production of radio commercials. By October 1995, Richards was given a Saturday afternoon shift at WGN as well.
In 1998, Richards successfully persuaded Chicago officials to rename a portion of Addison Street in Chicago near the WGN-TV studios after Bob Bell, who had played Bozo the Clown on WGN-TV from 1960 until 1984.
In January 1999, Richards debuted as a Sunday morning radio host on WGN. In January 2000, Richards began delivering weekly theater reviews on noon newscasts WGN-TV in Chicago. At the time, Richards was also a part of the regular rotation of hosts of Illinois Lottery drawings, which take place at the WGN-TV studios.
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Wikipedia