Don Imus's Biography

John Donald Imus, Jr, better known as Don Imus, was born on 23 July 1940 in Riverside, California.

Up until his sacking in 2007, his radio show, Imus in the Morning, was syndicated nationwide and was simultaneously broadcast on MSNBC. In his show, Don Imus had a cast of regulars, including his younger brother, Fred.

In December 2007, Don Imus returned to radio with an early morning slot on WABC-AM.

Don Imus started as a radio DJ in California in 1968 and moved to New York in 1971.

Imus, or "The I-Man", together with his wife Deidre and brother Fred, devotes much of his time to The Imus Ranch. The working cattle ranch outside Ribera, New Mexico welcomes children with cancer for a getaway.

This extract from Imus's interview with Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry on 15 September 2004 gives a flavour of the Show:

IMUS: You know what would've been funny -- I mean, I don't know whether you'd think it would've been funny or not -- but if he'd've... what's the matter with your throat?

KERRY: I'm doing great, actually.

IMUS: Well, why are you coughing and hacking then?

KERRY: Well, because I'm imitating you in the morning.

In the February 2006 issue of Vanity Fair, Don Imus discusses how he has kept clear of drink and cocaine for 18 years and that he and Deidre, his wife, tend to stay in at night rather than visit friends.

In April 2007, Don Imus was dropped by CBS Radio and MSNBC for making racist comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

On August 14 2007, Don Imus reached an undisclosed settlement with CBS Radio.

He died, aged 79, in December 2019.