Charles Dolan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Dolan
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Dolan in 2016
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| Born |
Charles Francis Dolan
October 16, 1926 |
| Died | December 28, 2024 (aged 98) |
| Alma mater | John Carroll University (dropped out) |
| Known for | Founder of Cablevision & HBO |
| Spouse(s) |
Helen Ann Dolan
(m. 1951; died 2023) |
| Children | 6, including James L. Dolan |
Charles Francis Dolan (born October 16, 1926 – died December 28, 2024) was a very successful American businessman. He was famous for starting two big companies: Cablevision and HBO. His family still owns many well-known businesses today. These include Madison Square Garden Sports, MSG Networks, and AMC Networks. In December 2024, he was worth about $5.4 billion.
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Early Life
Charles Dolan was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 16, 1926. His family had Irish Catholic roots. His father, David, was an inventor. He even sold one of his inventions to the Ford Motor Company. Charles served in the United States Army Air Forces at the end of World War II. He later went to John Carroll University. However, he left college early to start working in the world of telecommunications.
Building a Media Empire
Dolan's first jobs involved making and selling sports films. He and his wife created these films at home in Cleveland. They sold them to TV stations. Later, Dolan moved to New York City. He started a company called Teleguide Inc. This company gave information to hotels.
Starting Cable TV
In the same decade, Dolan founded Sterling Manhattan Cable. This was the first company to connect buildings for cable television. Cable TV allowed people to watch more channels. Sterling made special deals to bring New York sports teams, cultural shows, and movies to homes. They worked with teams like the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.
Two years later, he sold Sterling Cable's New York City operations. He then renamed his Long Island business Cablevision Systems.
Founding HBO
In the early 1970s, Dolan started Home Box Office. HBO was the first "premium" TV service. This meant subscribers paid extra to watch special movies and shows. He later sold HBO to Time Life.
After that, he focused on Cablevision Systems Corporation. He helped the company grow and add new services. He also had an idea for a service called VOOM. This service aimed to deliver high-definition TV (HDTV) content. However, it was later shut down. Other leaders at the company felt it was too expensive.
In 2016, Dolan sold Cablevision to Patrick Drahi's Altice USA. The sale was for $17.7 billion.
Awards and Recognition
Charles Dolan was a trustee at Fairfield University. He also served on the board of governors for St. Francis Hospital.
In November 2016, Fairfield University gave Dolan an honorary doctorate degree. This award recognized his great work in the media industry. It also honored his vision as a media pioneer. He was also thanked for his support to the university. He helped fund scholarships and the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.
In 2017, Dolan and his wife Helen received the Double Helix Medal. They shared this award with Tom Brokaw.
Family Life
Charles Dolan and his wife, Helen Ann, lived in Oyster Bay, New York. They were married from 1951 until Helen's death in 2023. They had six children together.
One of their children is James L. Dolan. James is the executive chairman of Madison Square Garden Sports. This company owns famous sports teams like the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. Another son, Patrick Dolan, is the main owner and publisher of Newsday.
Charles Dolan's younger brother, Larry Dolan, and his nephew, Paul Dolan, own the Cleveland Guardians baseball team.
Charles Dolan passed away on December 28, 2024, at the age of 98.
Political Contributions
Charles Dolan and his wife gave money to political campaigns. They contributed $125,000 to Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.
Donations to Education
The Fairfield University Dolan School of Business is named after Charles Dolan. This is because he donated $25 million to Fairfield University in 2000. He also served on the university's board of trustees.
The Dolan Center for Science and Technology is a special building at John Carroll University. It was finished in 2003 and cost over $66 million. This building houses the university's science departments. This includes Mathematics and Computer Science.
