Dick Orkin

Dick Orkin
Born	Richard Orkin July 9, 1934 (1934-07-09) (age 77) Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Spouse	Bunny Orkin
Children	Lisa Ann Orkin, Haris Orkin, Michael Orkin, Lynne Fisher

Dick Orkin (born July 9, 1934) is an award-winning voice actor and commercial radio producer who created the series Chickenman^[1] and The Secret Adventures of the Tooth Fairy. His voice has been used in many radio advertisements and public-service announcements.^[2]

Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Orkin received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Theater from Franklin and Marshall College. He received a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the Phillips Graduate Institute, and attended Yale Drama School, studying for a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater.^[3]

Orkin began working in advertising in Chicago in 1973. He gained acclaim with his comedy radio commercials for Time Magazine, GMAC, The Gap and other clients. His radio spots, mini dramas dubbed by Newsweek as "The Advertising Theater of the Absurd," have won many awards.

Orkin and Christine Coyle co-wrote two animated specials for CBS, Christmas Every Day and The Canterville Ghost. Orkin and Coyle are the founders of Radio Ranch.

Orkin is married and has four children.

Honors

Orkin has been inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame,^[2] the Illinois Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Broadcasters Hall of Fame^[4] and the Radio Advertising Bureau Hall of Fame.^[5][6]

On January 21, 2010, Orkin wrote to the National Association of Broadcasters requesting them to remove his name from the Hall of Fame because he did not wish to share the honor with Rush Limbaugh. According to Orkin, Limbaugh showed "reckless insensitivity" with his remarks regarding the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Orkin referred to Limbaugh as a "dangerous hate-monger" and a "perfidious human being".^[7]

References

1. ^ Time-June 9, 1967-It's a Bird! It's a Plane! Whoops, It's a Bird
2. ^ ^{a b} RadioRanch-How the Radio Serials, Chickenman and Toothfairy Were Born
3. ^ Henderson (1992). "He's Everywhere! He's Everywhere!". Chicago Reader. http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/hes-everywhere-hes-everywhere/Content?oid=879264. Retrieved 22 May 2010. 
4. ^ Pennsylvania Assiociation of Broadcasters-Dick Orkin
5. ^ RadioRanch-Head Honchos-Radio Advertising Bureau Hall of Fame Information
6. ^ "NAB Hall of Fame". National Association of Broadcasters. http://www.nab.org/events/awards/pastAwardWinners.asp?id=1926. Retrieved 2008-05-03. 
7. ^ Dick Orkin's Open Letter to NAB published on Orkin's Radio Ranch, webpage found 2010-01.28.

External links

• Billboard June 5, 1982 Yesterday's Deejay Heroes: Where Are They Now? Pages 28 & 31
• 1985 Interview with Dick Orkin-Chickenman & WCFL

Persondata
Name	Orkin, Dick
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1934-07-09
Place of birth	Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Date of death
Place of death