Tom Bergeron

Tom Bergeron
Tom Bergeron
	Bergeron in 2009
Born	Thomas Raymond Bergeron; May 6, 1955 (age 68); Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupations	Television personality; game show host;
Years active	1980–present
Known for	Breakfast Time (1994–1997); Good Morning America (1997–1998); Hollywood Squares (1998–2004); America's Funniest Home Videos (2001–2015); Dancing with the Stars (2005–2019); 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008)
Spouse	Lois Bergeron (m. 1982)
Children	2

Last updated April 14, 2024

Tom Bergeron (born May 6, 1955) is an American television personality and game show host, best known for hosting Breakfast Time from 1994 to 1997, Hollywood Squares from 1998 to 2004, America's Funniest Home Videos from 2001 to 2015, and Dancing with the Stars from 2005 to 2019 as well as being an anchor on Good Morning America from 1997 to 1998 and a cohost on the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2008.

Early life and career

Bergeron was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the son of Adrian Raymond "Ray" Bergeron Jr. (1934–2015) and Mary Catherine “Kay” Costello (1933–2016).^[1] Bergeron is of French Canadian and Irish descent.^[2] While being interviewed on the Howard Stern Show, Bergeron revealed when he was 17 years old he interviewed Larry Fine and Moe Howard of the Three Stooges after contacting the nursing home Larry was living in.^[3]

His first job in broadcasting was as a disc jockey at local radio station WHAV, in his home town of Haverhill, Massachusetts. He became a popular radio DJ in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire in the early 1980s on Portsmouth's WHEB,^[4] where he played comedy records along with music and offbeat interviews. His popularity led to additional TV and radio auditions.

One of his first jobs on television was as host of a local game show, Granite State Challenge , on New Hampshire Public Television (produced at NHPTV flagship station WENH-TV). He moved to the Boston market in February 1982, joining WBZ-TV as a general on-air personality. His early roles at the station included being a contributor on Evening Magazine (1982–1987), and hosting brief informational and show preview segments known as 4 Today, every 30 minutes during WBZ's daytime lineup (1983–1987). In 1984, he landed the hosting spot on Lottery Live, the nightly drawings of the Massachusetts State Lottery games. By January 1987, while still working in these roles, Bergeron added People Are Talking to his duties. He replaced outgoing host Buzz Luttrell on the early afternoon talk show, where he gained even more popularity. While Ron Cantera took over as host of 4 Today (until its cancellation in 1988), Bergeron remained lottery host until drawings moved to WNEV-TV in August 1987.^{[ citation needed ]} Bergeron additionally served as the original host of WBZ's weekend morning teenage discussion series Rap-Around^[5] from 1987 to 1989.

By the early 1990s, Bergeron was seen as a solid figure in Boston television, and WBZ continued to capitalize on his talents by featuring him on WBZ Radio. It was there he had an early-morning radio show called The Tom Bergeron Show. When People Are Talking ended a successful 13-year run in June 1993, Bergeron remained on WBZ-TV as commentator and lifestyle reporter for the station's expanded hour-long noon newscast. In early 1994, Bergeron briefly surfaced as a morning host on Boston's soft-rock station WMJX ("Magic 106.7"), which was only a short commute to WBZ's studios for his work on the noon news.

Bergeron credits a portion of his success as a television personality to his more than 35 years of regularly practicing Transcendental Meditation.^[6] He discussed his meditation practice on 10 Percent Happier with Dan Harris^[7] and The Fifth Dimension: A Mindfulness Podcast.^[8]

National television work

From 1994 to 1997, Bergeron co-hosted the morning show Breakfast Time on FX and later re-titled Fox After Breakfast when the show moved to the Fox Network.

In 1997, Bergeron joined ABC, where he served as a guest host for Good Morning America .

Bergeron was the host of Hollywood Squares from 1998 to 2004, a role for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host in 2000.

In February 2001, he became the new host of the ABC series America's Funniest Home Videos . In March 2014, Bergeron announced on Twitter that he would not be hosting America's Funniest Home Videos after season 25. Bergeron's final episode of America's Funniest Home Videos aired May 17, 2015.^[9] He was replaced by Alfonso Ribeiro.^[10]

In June 2005, he began hosting the reality series Dancing with the Stars , also on ABC. For his work on Dancing with the Stars, he received nine Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program, winning the award once in 2012. On July 13, 2020, Bergeron announced he had been let go from the series ahead of its 29th season in a message posted on Twitter.^[11]

On September 20, 2008, Bergeron co-hosted the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards alongside Heidi Klum, Jeff Probst, Ryan Seacrest, and Howie Mandel. The five were selected to host in recognition of their nominations in the inaugural category of Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program.

In 2020, Bergeron competed in the third season of The Masked Singer as "Taco".^[12]

Personal life

Bergeron has been married to Lois since 1982 and has two daughters.

In 2009, Bergeron published his autobiography I'm Hosting as Fast as I Can!: Zen and the Art of Staying Sane in Hollywood.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2009	Rock Slyde	Randy Wonder
2018	Candy Jar	Principal Nelson

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980	A Capitol Fourth	Himself	Episode: 2012–2014, 2016
1987–1990	People Are Talking	Himself/host	3 episodes
1994–1997	Breakfast Time	Himself/host
1996	The Daily Show	Himself	2 episodes
1997–1998	Good Morning America	Himself/anchor
1998	The Nanny	Himself	Episode: "Making Whoopi"
1998–2004	Hollywood Squares	Himself/host	1,047 episodes
2001–2015	America's Funniest Home Videos	Himself/host	289 episodes Also producer
2002–2005	Star Trek: Enterprise	Coridan Ambassador, Alien Trader D'Marr	2 episodes
2005–2019	Dancing with the Stars	Himself/Host	443 episodes
2005–present	Entertainment Tonight	Himself	20 episodes
2006–2019	Good Morning America	Himself	21 episodes
2008	Supper Club with Tom Bergeron	Himself	13 episodes
2010	Castle	Bobby Mann	Episode: "The Late Shaft"
2011	Phineas and Ferb	Announcer (voice)	Episode: "Bullseye!"
2015	The Muppets	Himself	Episode: "Pig Girls Don't Cry"
2017	The $100,000 Pyramid	Himself/Panelist	Episode: "Leslie Jones vs. LL Cool J and Tom Bergeron vs. Jennifer Nettles"
2017	To Tell the Truth	Himself/Panelist	2 episodes
2017	The 3rd Annual Carney Awards	Himself/host	Television special
2017	Access Daily	Himself	1 episode
2018	Candy Jar	Principal Nelson
2018	Behind Closed Doors	Himself	Episode: "John Ritter"
2018	Steve	Himself	Episode: "Tom Bergeron/Cali Champion, Dr. V & Alesha Renee"
2018	Animals.	Himself	Episode: "Pigeons"
2018	The Messenger	The Messenger	Also producer
2020	The Masked Singer	Taco/Himself	Eliminated in "Friends in High Places: Group B Championships"
2020	Down the Middle	Rex	1 episode
2022	American Auto	Himself	Episode: "Charity Dinner"

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References

↑ Mike LaBella (June 11, 2009). "TV host Bergeron returns to his native Haverhill for book signing". eagletribune.com.
↑ Don Freeman (February 17, 1999). Host sees humor go full circle Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine at the ProQuest Archiver. The San Diego Union Tribune.
↑ Archive – The Three Stooges: Lost and Found
↑ McMahon, Charles (2013), Legendary Locals of Portsmouth, Arcadia Publishing, p. 97, ISBN 9781467100762
↑ "Dancing With the Stars Host Tom Bergeron Talks Live". Washington Post . April 23, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
↑ "'Dancing With the Stars' host Tom Bergeron says meditation helps him react during a live show". ABC News . September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
↑ "Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris – #100: Tom Bergeron, 'Dancing With the Stars' Host {!} Listen via Stitcher for Podcasts". stitcher.com. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
↑ "The Fifth Dimension: Tom Bergeron – Hollywood Zen on Apple Podcasts". podcasts.apple.com. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
↑ Oldenburg, Ann (March 12, 2014). "Tom Bergeron quits 'America's Funniest Home Videos'". USA Today. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
↑ ABC Renews 'The Bachelor,' 'Shark Tank,' 'Funniest Home Videos', Variety , May 9, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014
↑ ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Hosts Tom Bergeron & Erin Andrews To Exit ABC Reality Competition, Deadline Hollywood , July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020
↑ Parker, Lyndsey (March 4, 2020). "The bell tolls for the Taco: 'Masked Singer' castoff is seasoned TV host". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved March 4, 2020.

External links

Media offices
Preceded by John Davidson (1986–1989)	Host of Hollywood Squares 1998–2004	Succeeded by Peter Rosenberg (Hip Hop Squares, 2012)
Preceded by none	Co-Host of Dancing with the Stars 2005–2019 With: Lisa Canning (2005) Samantha Harris (2006–2009) Brooke Burke (2010–2013) Erin Andrews (2014–2019)	Succeeded by Tyra Banks (2020–2022)
Preceded by Daisy Fuentes & John Fugelsang (1998–1999)	Host of America's Funniest Home Videos 2001–2015	Succeeded by Alfonso Ribeiro (2015–present)
Preceded by Ben Stein and Jimmy Kimmel	Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host 2000 tie with Bob Barker	Succeeded by Regis Philbin
Preceded by Wayne Brady (2002)	Host of Miss America 2003	Succeeded by Chris Harrison (2003)

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[1] Mike LaBella (June 11, 2009). "TV host Bergeron returns to his native Haverhill for book signing". eagletribune.com.

[2] Don Freeman (February 17, 1999). Host sees humor go full circle Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine at the ProQuest Archiver. The San Diego Union Tribune.

[3] Archive – The Three Stooges: Lost and Found

[4] McMahon, Charles (2013), Legendary Locals of Portsmouth, Arcadia Publishing, p. 97, ISBN 9781467100762

[5] "Dancing With the Stars Host Tom Bergeron Talks Live". Washington Post . April 23, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2015.

[6] "'Dancing With the Stars' host Tom Bergeron says meditation helps him react during a live show". ABC News . September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.

[7] "Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris – #100: Tom Bergeron, 'Dancing With the Stars' Host {!} Listen via Stitcher for Podcasts". stitcher.com. Retrieved August 27, 2020.

[8] "The Fifth Dimension: Tom Bergeron – Hollywood Zen on Apple Podcasts". podcasts.apple.com. Retrieved August 27, 2020.

[9] Oldenburg, Ann (March 12, 2014). "Tom Bergeron quits 'America's Funniest Home Videos'". USA Today. Retrieved March 12, 2014.

[10] ABC Renews 'The Bachelor,' 'Shark Tank,' 'Funniest Home Videos', Variety , May 9, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014

[11] ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Hosts Tom Bergeron & Erin Andrews To Exit ABC Reality Competition, Deadline Hollywood , July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020

[12] Parker, Lyndsey (March 4, 2020). "The bell tolls for the Taco: 'Masked Singer' castoff is seasoned TV host". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved March 4, 2020.

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Authority control databases
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Tom Bergeron
Bergeron in 2009
Born	Thomas Raymond Bergeron (1955-05-06) May 6, 1955 (age 68) Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupations	Television personality game show host
Years active	1980–present
Known for	Breakfast Time (1994–1997) Good Morning America (1997–1998) Hollywood Squares (1998–2004) America's Funniest Home Videos (2001–2015) Dancing with the Stars (2005–2019) 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008)
Spouse	Lois Bergeron (m. 1982)
Children	2