Dave Barry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dave Barry
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Barry at the 2011 Washington Post Hunt
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| Born | David McAlister Barry July 3, 1947 Armonk, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Humorist Author |
| Alma mater | Haverford College (BA) |
| Spouse | Ann Shelnutt (1969–19?) Beth Lenox
(m. 1976; div. 1993)Michelle Kaufman
(m. 1996) |
| Children | 2 |
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David McAlister Barry (born July 3, 1947) is a famous American author and humorist. For many years, he wrote a popular humor column for the Miami Herald newspaper. His column was syndicated, which means it was published in many other newspapers across the country.
Besides his newspaper column, Barry has written many funny books. He has also written adventure novels for both adults and kids. For his writing, he has won major awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1988.
Barry once described a sense of humor as a way of realizing that the world can sometimes seem like a confusing place. He said that "laughter is how we express the anxiety we feel at this knowledge."
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Dave Barry was born in Armonk, New York. His father was a Presbyterian minister. Barry went to Pleasantville High School, where his classmates voted him "Class Clown" in 1965. In 1969, he graduated from Haverford College with a degree in English.
Because he attended a college connected to the Quakers, who are known for their peaceful beliefs, Barry registered as a religious conscientious objector. This meant he did not have to serve in the military during the Vietnam War.
Writing Career
Getting Started in Journalism
Barry started his career as a journalist in 1971 at a newspaper in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He wrote about local news and events. He also started writing a weekly humor column, where he developed his funny and unique style.
Later, he worked for a company that taught businesspeople how to write more clearly. He said he spent years trying to get them to stop using confusing phrases, but he eventually realized it was a "hopeless" task.
The Miami Herald and a Pulitzer Prize
In 1981, Barry wrote a funny guest column for a newspaper about the birth of his son. An editor at the Miami Herald saw it and hired him as a humor columnist in 1983. His column became very popular and was printed in newspapers all over the United States.
In 1988, Barry won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. The prize committee honored him for his "consistently effective use of humor as a device for presenting fresh insights into serious concerns."
Writing Books and Novels
Barry's first novel, Big Trouble, was published in 1999. It was later made into a movie starring Tim Allen and Rene Russo. The movie was supposed to be released in September 2001. However, its story involved a bomb on an airplane, which was very similar to the tragic September 11 attacks. Out of respect, the movie's release was delayed until April 2002.
Barry's funny writing has appeared in many magazines and books. In 2005, he won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. That same year, he announced he was taking a break from his weekly column to spend more time with his family. He still writes his popular annual gift guide and year-in-review articles.
Dave's World TV Show
From 1993 to 1997, a TV show called Dave's World was broadcast on CBS. The show was a sitcom, or situation comedy, based on Barry's life and his books Dave Barry Turns 40 and Dave Barry's Greatest Hits.
The show starred actor Harry Anderson as Dave. Barry himself even made a brief appearance in one episode. The show was popular for a while but was canceled after four seasons.
The Rock Bottom Remainders
Barry was also a musician. In college, he was in a band called the Federal Duck. Later, he started a band with his coworkers at the Miami Herald.
In 1992, he became the lead guitarist for the Rock Bottom Remainders. This was a special rock band made up of famous authors. The name is a joke from the book world, where a "remaindered" book is one that didn't sell well.
Other members of the band included well-known writers like Stephen King, Amy Tan, and Matt Groening (the creator of The Simpsons). According to Barry, the band members "are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud." The band toured and even played with famous musicians like Bruce Springsteen.
Personal Life
Barry has been married three times. He has a son, Robert, and a daughter, Sophie. His wife, Michelle Kaufman, is also a writer for the Miami Herald.
Over the years, Barry has owned several dogs, including Goldie, Earnest, Zippy, and Lucy. He often wrote about them in his columns.
Works
Non-fiction
- The Taming of the Screw (1983)
- Babies and Other Hazards of ...: How to Make a Tiny Person in Only 9 Months With Tools You Probably Have Around the Home (1984)
- Stay Fit and Healthy Until You're Dead (1985)
- Claw Your Way to the Top: How to Become the Head of a Major Corporation in Roughly a Week (1986)
- Dave Barry's Guide to Marriage and/or ... (1987)
- Homes and Other Black Holes (1988)
- Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of History of the United States (1989)
- Dave Barry Turns 40 (1990)
- Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need (1991)
- Dave Barry Does Japan (1992)
- Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys (1996)
- Dave Barry in Cyberspace (1996)
- Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs (1997)
- Dave Barry Turns 50 (1998)
- Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway: A Vicious and Unprovoked Attack on Our Most Cherished Political Institutions (2001)
- Dave Barry's Money Secrets (2006)
- Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far) (2007)
- I'll Mature When I'm Dead: Dave Barry's Amazing Tales of Adulthood (2010)
- You Can Date Boys When You're Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About (2014)
- Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland (2015)
- Lessons from Lucy (2019)
- A Field Guide to the Jewish People (2019, with Adam Mansbach and Alan Zweibel)
- Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I Went 77 Years Without Growing Up (2025)
Collected columns
- Dave Barry's Bad Habits: A 100% Fact-Free Book (1985)
- Dave Barry's Greatest Hits (1988)
- Dave Barry Talks Back (1991)
- Dave Barry is NOT Making This Up (1995)
- Dave Barry Is from Mars and Venus (1997)
- Dave Barry Is Not Taking This Sitting Down (2000)
- Boogers Are My Beat (2003)
Fiction
- Big Trouble (1999)
- Tricky Business (2002)
- Peter and the Starcatchers (2004, with Ridley Pearson)
- Peter and the Shadow Thieves (2006, with Ridley Pearson)
- Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (2007, with Ridley Pearson)
- The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog (2006)
- Science Fair (2008, with Ridley Pearson)
- Peter and the Sword of Mercy (2009, with Ridley Pearson)
- The Bridge to Neverland (2011, with Ridley Pearson)
- Lunatics (2012, with Alan Zweibel)
- Insane City (2013)
- The Worst Class Trip Ever (2015)
- The Worst Night Ever (2016)
- Swamp Story (2023)
See also
In Spanish: Dave Barry para niños
- Exploding whale
- International Talk Like a Pirate Day
