Bill Handel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Handel
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Bill Handel, June 2009
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William Wolf Handel
August 25, 1951 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | California State University, Northridge (B.A.) Whittier College (J.D.) |
| Occupation | Attorney, radio host, commentator |
| Spouse(s) | Lyndsay Soprano Handel (Divorced from Marjorie Handel) |
| Children | 2 |
William Wolf Handel (born August 25, 1951) is an American radio host and attorney. He was born in Brazil.
Bill Handel is well-known for hosting two popular radio shows on KFI in Los Angeles, California. One is a morning show where he talks about current events. This show is very popular in Los Angeles, reaching over a million listeners. He also hosts a weekend show called Handel on the Law. This show started in 1985 and gives legal advice. It is broadcast on more than 150 radio stations across the U.S.
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Bill Handel's Early Life and Education
Bill Handel was born in Brazil. His family moved to the United States when he was five years old. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley in California.
He went to California State University, Northridge, where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1976. After that, he started a construction company. While working, he also studied law at night at the Whittier College School of Law. He finished his law degree in 1979.
Helping Families with Surrogate Parenting
In the 1980s, Bill Handel worked on legal cases related to surrogate parenting. He also started the Center for Surrogate Parenting & Egg Donation. This center helped families with important decisions about having children through surrogacy.
In 1994, he hosted a TV show called Judge For Yourself. The show was unique because it asked viewers to call in with their opinions.
Bill Handel's Radio Career
Bill Handel joined KFI radio in Los Angeles in 1989. He started with a weekend show called "Handel On The Law," which gave legal advice. On July 16, 1993, he began hosting a morning talk show.
Morning Show: The Bill Handel Show
The Bill Handel Show starts with "Handel on the News." This part of the show gives a summary of the day's top stories. Bill Handel shares his thoughts on these news items. Later in the show, he often invites guests to discuss important topics. He might spend a good amount of time on one news story, explaining different viewpoints and sharing his own.
Weekend Show: Handel on the Law
On his weekend show, Handel on the Law, Bill Handel gives "marginal legal advice." This means he helps callers understand the basics of their legal problems and points them in the right direction. He often uses humor when talking to callers about their situations. The show helps people understand common legal issues like problems between landlords and tenants, car accidents, and divorce. This show is heard on Saturday mornings on KFI, but other stations might play it at different times during the weekend.
Important Moments in Radio
On September 11, 2001, Bill Handel was on the air when the terrorist attacks happened at the World Trade Center. Many radio stations in Los Angeles switched to his live broadcast as the news unfolded. He continued to broadcast for several hours, taking the place of other national shows. This led him to guest host on The Rush Limbaugh Show two more times.
Awards and Recognitions
Bill Handel has received many awards for his work in radio.
- On September 23, 2005, he was named "Major Market Personality of the Year" at the NAB Marconi Radio Awards. He said he was very proud and honored to receive this award.
- He also won "Local News/Talk/Sports Personality of the Year" from Radio & Records magazine three times: in 2005, 2007, and 2008.
- On April 26, 2008, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from CSUN, his college.
- The alumni association of Whittier Law School gave him the "Humanitarian of the Year Award" on April 25, 2009.
- On June 12, 2009, Bill Handel received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 6640 Hollywood Boulevard.
- On November 2, 2017, Bill Handel was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
Bill Handel's Personal Life
On March 20, 2025, Bill Handel married his second wife, Lyndsay Soprano-Handel, in Italy. He has two children.
