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Jack O'Brian

1914 – 2000

American journalist

Journalist Associated PressBuffalo Courier-Express
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About Jack O'Brian

Lived 1914 – 2000 (aged 86). Jack O'Brian was an American journalist, associated Press, buffalo Courier-Express, new York Journal American and WOR (AM).

John Dennis Patrick O'Brian (August 16, 1914 – November 5, 2000) was an American entertainment journalist best known for his longtime role as a television critic for New York Journal American.

Career A supporter of Senator Joseph McCarthy, O'Brian wrote a series of red-baiting attacks on CBS News and WCBS TV reporter Don Hollenbeck, accusing him of having Communist sympathies. These attacks were a major factor in Hollenbeck's eventual suicide in 1954, and are referenced in the 1986 film Murrow as well as in the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck and its Broadway adaptation.

After the death in November 1965 of Dorothy Kilgallen, his colleague at the Journal American, O'Brian took over her Voice of Broadway column at the paper.

Personal life and death O'Brian was married to Yvonne Johnston, who died in 1996. They had two daughters, Bridget and Kate O'Brian, who was president of Al Jazeera America.

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Important facts

People in Jack O'Brian's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jack O'Brian's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jack O'Brian?

American journalist (1914-2000)

When was Jack O'Brian born?

Jack O'Brian was born on 16 August 1914 in New York City.

When did Jack O'Brian die?

Jack O'Brian died on 5 November 2000 in Manhattan.

What was Jack O'Brian's occupation?

Jack O'Brian was a journalist, associated Press, buffalo Courier-Express, new York Journal American and WOR (AM).

What nationality was Jack O'Brian?

Jack O'Brian was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jack O'Brian

· Wikidata: Q1677143

· DBpedia: Jack O'Brian

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jack O'Brian. https://biography.guide/jack-o-brian/

MLA: "Jack O'Brian." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jack-o-brian/.

Chicago: "Jack O'Brian." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jack-o-brian/.

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