Lawrence O'Donnell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence O'Donnell
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O'Donnell at the Women's March along Fifth Avenue on January 21, 2017
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| Born |
Lawrence Francis O’Donnell Jr.
November 7, 1951 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Education | Harvard University (BA) |
| Occupation |
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Notable credit(s)
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Political commentary: The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell The McLaughlin Group Morning Joe Television fictional series: The West Wing (producer, writer, actor) Big Love, Homeland (actor) |
| Spouse(s) |
Kathryn Harrold
(m. 1994; div. 2013) |
| Children | 1 |
Lawrence Francis O'Donnell Jr. (born November 7, 1951) is an American television host, actor, and writer. He is known for hosting The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC, a news and opinion show that airs on weeknights.
Before his TV career, O'Donnell worked in politics. He was an aide to U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. He also worked as a writer and producer for the TV show The West Wing. In this show, he even played a small acting role as President Bartlet's father.
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Early Life and Education
Lawrence O'Donnell was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 7, 1951. His mother, Frances Marie, was an office manager. His father, Lawrence Francis O'Donnell Sr., was a lawyer.
He went to St. Sebastian's School, where he was a good athlete. He played baseball and football. Later, he studied economics at Harvard College and graduated in 1976. While at Harvard, he wrote for the Harvard Lampoon, a humor magazine.
Career Highlights
Lawrence O'Donnell has had a varied career, working as an author, in politics, and in television.
As an Author
From 1977 to 1988, O'Donnell worked as a writer. In 1983, he wrote a book called Deadly Force. This book was about a legal case involving police actions, where his father was the lawyer.
The book was later made into a film in 1986. O'Donnell was an associate producer for the movie. In 2017, he published another book, Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics.
Working in U.S. Congress
From 1989 to 1995, O'Donnell worked for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. He started as a senior adviser. Then, he became the staff director for two important Senate committees. These committees dealt with environmental issues and financial matters.
Television Work
Lawrence O'Donnell has been very active in television, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.
Writing and Producing TV Shows
From 1999 to 2006, O'Donnell was a key part of the TV drama The West Wing. He wrote 16 episodes for the show. He also held various production roles, including executive story editor, co-producer, producer, and executive producer.
His work on The West Wing earned him an important award. He won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2001 for Outstanding Drama Series. He was also nominated for the same award in 2006. In 2003, he created and was the executive producer for another TV drama called Mister Sterling.
TV Host and Commentator
In 2009, O'Donnell became a regular guest on Morning Joe, a news show on MSNBC. He was known for his strong debate style. Sometimes, his discussions became very intense.
In September 2010, O'Donnell started hosting his own show on MSNBC. It was called The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell. The show quickly became popular. He has continued to host The Last Word since then, discussing current events and politics.
Acting Roles
Besides writing and hosting, O'Donnell has also acted in several TV shows. He played Lee Hatcher, a family lawyer, in the HBO series Big Love.
He also appeared in The West Wing, the show he helped produce. In one episode, he played President Josiah Bartlet's father in a flashback scene. He has also appeared in shows like Monk and Homeland.
Political Views
Lawrence O'Donnell has openly shared his political beliefs. In interviews, he has described himself as a "practical European socialist." He has explained that he identifies as a socialist based on the definition he learned in college economics classes.
Helping Others
In 2010, O'Donnell traveled to Malawi, a country in Africa. He wanted to help provide school desks for girls there. Many girls in Malawi had never had desks in their classrooms.
MSNBC and UNICEF worked together to create the K.I.N.D. Fund. K.I.N.D. stands for "Kids in Need of Desks." The fund's goal is to deliver desks to schools in Malawi. As of 2023, the K.I.N.D. Fund has raised $40 million. This money has provided over 330,000 desks for more than a million students. It has also given scholarships to help over 27,600 girls continue their education.
Personal Life
Lawrence O'Donnell married Kathryn Harrold in 1994. They had one child, Elizabeth Buckley Harrold O'Donnell. The couple divorced in 2013.
In 2014, O'Donnell was in a traffic accident while on vacation. He was injured but recovered and returned to his show after two months. In 2001, he received an honorary degree from Suffolk University.
Images for kids
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O'Donnell at the Women's March along Fifth Avenue on January 21, 2017
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O'Donnell (right) and Ed Asner in 2017
