Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues (1987) as Himself
Garfield in Paradise (1986) as Chief
Short Info
Date Of Birth
January 21, 1938
Died
July 1, 1995, Belvedere, North Carolina, United States
Spouse
Lou Smith
Mark
Wolf howl and gravelly voice
Fact
He was a fan of disc jockey Alan Freed who helped to turn African-American rhythm and blues into Caucasian rock and roll music. Freed originally called himself the Moondog after New York City street musician Moondog. Freed both adopted this name and used a recorded howl to give his early broadcasts a unique character. The Wolfman's adaptation of the Moondog theme was to call himself Wolfman Jack and add his own sound effects. The character was based in part on the manner and style of bluesman Howling Wolf. He created the nickname Wolfman Jack and attempted to mask his true identity to create public interest in his radio character.
Wolfman Jack was born Robert Weston Smith on January 21, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York. His father, an insurance salesman, died when Wolfman was just four years old. His mother remarried and the family moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where Wolfman attended Maury High School. It was there that he developed a love for rhythm and blues music.
Wolfman began his career in radio in the early 1960s, working at a number of small stations in North Carolina and Virginia. He eventually landed a job at XERF, a Mexican border blaster with a powerful signal that could be heard across the United States. It was at XERF that Wolfman developed his signature style, which included speaking in a gravelly voice and playing music by black artists that was not typically heard on mainstream radio.
In the early 1970s, Wolfman moved to Los Angeles, where he began working at KDAY. It was there that he gained a wider audience and became one of the most popular DJs in the country. He also began making appearances on television and in films, including American Graffiti (1973) and The Wolfman (1981).
Wolfman continued to work in radio and television until his death from a heart attack on July 1, 1995. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1999.
At the time of his death, Wolfman Jack was estimated to have a net worth of $5 million.
General Info
Full Name
Wolfman Jack
Date Of Birth
January 21, 1938
Died
July 1, 1995, Belvedere, North Carolina, United States
Place Of Birth
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Profession
Disc jockey, Actor, Radio personality
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Lou Smith
Children
Joy Rene Smith, Tod Weston Smith
Parents
Anson Weston Smith, Rosamond Small
Accomplishments
Movies
Mortuary Academy, Garfield in Paradise, Stanley the Ugly Duckling, Motel Hell, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Deadman's Curve, Deranged, American Graffiti, Rock's First Teen Idols
Began his radio career in 1960 at WYOU in Newport News, Virginia, and later moved to KCIJ in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he first came up with the idea of the Wolfman Jack character.
2
He was a fan of disc jockey Alan Freed who helped to turn African-American rhythm and blues into Caucasian rock and roll music. Freed originally called himself the Moondog after New York City street musician Moondog. Freed both adopted this name and used a recorded howl to give his early broadcasts a unique character. The Wolfman's adaptation of the Moondog theme was to call himself Wolfman Jack and add his own sound effects. The character was based in part on the manner and style of bluesman Howling Wolf. He created the nickname Wolfman Jack and attempted to mask his true identity to create public interest in his radio character.
3
Once appeared in a commercial for Clearasil.
4
A final tribute show aired one week after Wolfman's death on over 100 radio stations.
5
For the last two years of his life, Wolfman Jack did a live weekly show from WXTR-FM in Washington, DC, which was carried on 50 affiliate stations around the United States.
6
Career began on KCIJ-AM, a daytime station in Shreveport, Louisiana.
7
He is referred to in the songs, "Ramble on Rose", by Grateful Dead, "Clap For the Wolfman" by The Guess Who, and "Wolfman Jack" by Todd Rundgren.
8
Hit #106 on the Billboard Singles Charts in 1972 with "I Ain't Never Seen a White Man" (Wooden Nickel 0108)
9
"Wolfman Jack" was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1996.
10
He died almost immediately after returning home from a promotional tour for his autobiography, "Have Mercy." He entered his house, hugged his wife, said "Oh, it is so good to be home!" and literally died in his wife's arms.
11
Wolfman Jack worked as a disc jockey from 1964 to 1966 for the (then) 250,000 watt radio station XERF (1570 AM) in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, just across the river from Del Rio, Texas, USA, which is among borders of Texas and Mexico.
12
Wolfman Jack was an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, where he was officially known as and nicknamed "Reverend Jack".
13
He made his final syndicated radio broadcast from a Planet Hollywood restaurant in Washington, DC, on Friday Night, June 30, 1995.
Pictures
Movies
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Garfield and Friends
1994
TV Series
Swamp Thing
1992
TV Series
Hurly
DJ Boy
1989
Video Game
Disk Jockey (US version, voice)
Mortuary Academy
1988
Bernie Berkowitz
Rags to Riches
1987
TV Series
Morgan W. Hollywood
Garfield in Paradise
1986
TV Short
Chief (voice)
The Midnight Hour
1985
TV Movie
Radio D.J. (voice)
Stanley, the Ugly Duckling
1982
TV Movie
Eagle One (voice)
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang
1980-1981
TV Series
Opening Narrator
Motel Hell
1980
Reverend Billy
More American Graffiti
1979
Wolfman Jack
Wonder Woman
1978
TV Series
Infra Red
Hanging on a Star
1978
Gordon Shep
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1978
Our Guests at Heartland
Deadman's Curve
1978
TV Movie
The Jackal
James at 16
1978
TV Series
Announcer
Police Story
1978
TV Series
Felco
Have I Got a Christmas for You
1977
TV Movie
Chips Domino
The Wolfman Jack Show
1976
TV Series
Host
What's Happening!!
1976
TV Series
Emcee
Emergency!
1975
TV Series
The Odd Couple
1973
TV Series
Wolfman Jack
American Graffiti
1973
Disc Jockey
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
31
2016
performer: "Graveyard Ball", "Wings of Lightning", "Wolfman Jack Show Promo", "Big Party", "Wolfman Jack Halloween Show"
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1978
performer: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" Finale
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Tenacity and Gratitude: The Frank Cotolo Story
2014
Documentary in loving memory of / in memory of
Flying High
1978
TV Series thanks - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Moondog Airwaves
2015
Short completed
Himself
Married with Children
1995
TV Series
Himself
Midnight
1989
Himself
Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues
1987
TV Special
Himself
The New Hollywood Squares
1987
TV Series
Guest Appearance
The Return of Bruno
1987
TV Movie
Himself
Wolf Rock TV
1984
TV Series
Himself
The Midnight Special
1972-1980
TV Series
Himself - Announcer / Himself / Himself-Announcer / ...