Drew Pinsky

Drew Pinsky

Pinsky in January 2007.
Birth name David Drew Pinsky
Born (1958-09-04) September 4, 1958
Pasadena, California, United States
Alma mater Amherst College
USC Keck School of Medicine
Show Loveline
Station(s) KROQ-FM
Various (syndicated)
Network Westwood One
Show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew
Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House
Dr. Drew On Call
Network VH1
MTV
HLN
Country United States
Spouse(s) Susan (Sailer) Pinsky[1]
Children 3
Website DrDrew.com

David Drew Pinsky (born September 4, 1958),[2] best known as Dr. Drew, is an American board-certified internist, addiction medicine specialist, and media personality. He has hosted the nationally syndicated radio talk show Loveline since the show's inception in 1984. On television, he hosts the talk show Dr. Drew On Call on HLN, and hosted the canceled daytime series Lifechangers on The CW. In addition, he serves as producer and starred in the VH1 show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, and its spinoffs Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew, Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House and hosts podcasts on the Adam Carolla podcast network.

Pinsky is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, former Medical Director for the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, California,[3] staff member at Huntington Memorial Hospital, and a private practitioner.[4]

Early life

Pinsky was born in Pasadena, California.[5] His father, Morton Pinsky (1925–2009), was a physician whose parents emigrated from Russia.[6] His mother, Helene Stanton (née Eleanor Mae Stansbury; born 1925), is a retired singer and actress who came from a "highly Victorian upper-middle-class family in Philadelphia".[6][7] Pinsky attended Polytechnic School. He majored in biology at Amherst College, graduating in 1980,[5][8] and earned his M.D. at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in 1984.[9] He served his residency in internal medicine at USC County Hospital and became chief resident at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, and eventually moved into private practice.[10]

Career

My goal was always to be part of pop culture and relevant to young people, to interact with the people they hold in high esteem.
 Dr. Drew Pinsky, The New York Times, February 2008.[11]

As The New York Times described it in February 2008, Pinsky's dual career in medicine and the mass media has required him to "navigat[e] a precarious balance of professionalism and salaciousness."[11]

Radio work

Main article: Loveline

In 1984, while still a medical student, Pinsky started appearing in "Ask a Surgeon", a segment of a Sunday night KROQ-FM show hosted by Jim "Poorman" Trenton and "Swedish" Egil Aalvik.[12] "Ask the Surgeon" soon combined with "Loveline", another Sunday night segment, into a show of its own, co-hosted by Trenton and Pinsky. Loveline went national in 1995, and the television version launched on MTV the following year, hosted by Pinsky and Adam Carolla. The exposure on both radio and television made Pinsky the "Gen-X answer to Dr. Ruth Westheimer, with an AIDS-era, pro-safe-sex message."[11] The MTV show ran for four years, while the radio show continues on today with cohost Mike Catherwood.

On November 27, 2007, Pinsky began Dr. Drew Live, another nationally syndicated talk radio show where he focused on a wider range of health issues. It originated from KGIL in Los Angeles, originally airing weekdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm PT[13] The show was canceled in December 2008.

On January 5, 2015, Pinsky launched a new weekday program, "Dr. Drew Midday Live with Mike Catherwood," on KABC in Los Angeles.[14]

Television

Pinsky's first television appearance was as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune in 1984, though he did not win. He also served as "health and human relations expert" on the first season of the U.S. TV series Big Brother in 2000.

He has also hosted several shorter educational television series, starting with Strictly Sex with Dr. Drew, which ran for 10 episodes on the Discovery Health Channel, followed by Strictly Dr. Drew which addressed everyday health issues. He later hosted the MTV series Sex...with Mom and Dad (2008–2009).

In 2008, Pinsky starred in Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, a reality television show which involves celebrities in a drug rehabilitation facility. The show was filmed at Pasadena Recovery Center, with Pinsky serving as the resident medical expert. The series premiered January 10, 2008 on VH-1, and has been renewed for multiple seasons. A follow-up show to Celebrity Rehab with many of the same celebrities was Sober House, which began its first season in January 2009, and included celebrities from the first two seasons of Celebrity Rehab continuing their recovery in a sober living facility.[15] In November 2009, Pinsky starred in a spinoff of Celebrity Rehab, Sex Rehab with Dr.Drew, which depicted celebrities being treated for sexual addiction over the course of three weeks at the Pasadena Recovery Center.

Pinsky makes guest appearances on a variety of news programs where he usually gives his observations on the relationship between controlled substances and high-profile individuals. He has frequently given his views on the deaths of people such as Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger and Michael Jackson, arguing that their fates should set examples of the seriousness of misusing drugs.[16]

Pinsky has acted in several TV appearances (either portraying himself or a fictional character), Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Dawson's Creek,[17] Family Guy.[18] The Adam Carolla Project, Minoriteam,[19] Robot Chicken,[20] My Gym Partner's a Monkey,[21] and Code Monkeys.[22] Pinsky also appeared in the films New York Minute and Wild Hogs.

In early 2011, Pinsky began hosting his own show, Dr. Drew On Call on HLN that focuses on news involving health and addiction topics.[23]

Other work

In 1999, Pinsky co-founded an Internet-based community and advice site for teenagers called DrDrew.com with Curtis Giesen. Among their early backers was Garage.com.[24] DrDrew.com soon ran out of funding, and the company was sold to Sherwood Partners Inc., a corporate restructuring firm, which sold the remnants to DrKoop.com in November 2000.[25] Pinsky re-acquired the site circa 2013 and began using for general information about his books, radio and TV shows, as well as hosting his independent podcast, The Dr. Drew Podcast.[26] In September 2012, Pinsky announced on the The Adam Carolla Show that he will be doing a podcast on the Carolla Digital network.[27]

In 2003, Pinsky authored Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again, recounting his experiences as the Medical Director of the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at the Las Encinas Hospital drug rehabilitation clinic in Pasadena, California. He also contributed to the book When Painkillers Become Dangerous: What Everyone Needs to Know About OxyContin and Other Prescription Drugs, published in 2004.

In addition to his media appearances, Pinsky speaks at college campuses and other public venues.[28][29] When Adam Carolla and Pinsky were teamed as hosts of Loveline, Carolla and Pinsky spoke at colleges.[30][31][32]

Pinsky was the voice of 1-800-GET-THIN, advocating lap band surgery on radio ads and in a recording played for those who called 1-800-GET-THIN.[33][34][35]

He also appeared with his dogs in a PETA ad campaign promoting the spaying and neutering of pets.[36]

Honors

Asteroid 4536 Drewpinsky is named in his honor.[37]

Pinsky was honored with the Larry Stewart Leadership and Inspiration Award at the 12th Annual PRISM Awards in 2008.[38]

Credentials

Personal life

Pinsky married on July 21, 1991, and he and his wife, Susan Sailer, had triplets Douglas, Jordan, and Paulina in November 1992.[45][46][47]

Pinsky lives in Pasadena, California. Interested in fitness since his early teens, he goes running[48] and does weight training regularly.[49] In addition to his hobby of traveling,[12] he also enjoys singing opera, as his mother was a professional singer. Pinsky stated on the June 24, 2009 episode of Loveline that at one point, he was torn between practicing medicine and becoming a professional opera singer.[50] Pinsky stated that he auditioned for a celebrity singing show, but that the show passed on his appearance when he made it clear to producers that he could not sing pop songs, but did perform an aria on Turn Ben Stein On.[51][52][53]

Pinsky's father, Morton, died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage on October 27, 2009.[54] A title card at the end of the season 3 finale of Celebrity Rehab dedicated the episode to him.

Pinsky is a nonobservant Jew; he admits to abandoning most Jewish practices but claims to retain a continued desire to learn about the religion. He explains that religious as well as philosophical studies affect his medical practice and his speeches, and that his background places "an indirect coloring on every answer."[55]

In September 2013, Pinsky revealed that he had recovered from prostate cancer surgery performed earlier that June and July, after which Pinsky did not require chemotherapy or radiation.[56]

In an interview on Kevin and Bean, Pinsky has stated he will speak to any media outlet including TMZ and The National Enquirer, but will not speak to the Los Angeles Times, explaining "They distort, and they mislead, and they take things out of context. I really am stunned at how shoddy their journalism is, so I stopped talking to them."[57]

Politically, Pinsky has increasingly spoken of the 'tyranny' of governmental overreach and the need for a “Liberty Party.”[58]

Filmography

Radio

Podcasts

  • The Dr. Drew Podcast
  • The Adam & Dr. Drew Show with Adam Carolla
  • The Mike & Dr. Drew Show with Mike Catherwood
  • All About Women with Dr. Drew
  • Dr. Drew's One-Minute Clinic

Film

Television

Published work

Journal publications

Books

References

  1. "Drew Pinsky: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  2. "Drew Pinsky Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  3. Lin, Rong-Gong II. "Dr. Drew Pinsky leaves Las Encinas Hospital, which faces renewed scrutiny". Los Angeles Times. March 6, 2010
  4. "USC Study: Celebrities Really Are More Narcissistic than the General Public". Breitbart.com. Accessed September 6, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Drew Pinsky- Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  6. 1 2 Pinsky, Drew; Pinksy Todd Gold. Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again: A Doctor's Story, New York: Regan Books. 2004. pg. 38
  7. "Helena Stanton - The Private Life and Times of Helene Stanton." Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  8. "Amherst Reads Feature Book - July 2009". Amherst College. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Medical Board of California, License Holder". Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  10. "Relationships and Health with Drew Pinsky, M.D.". Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 Jesella, Kara (February 3, 2008). "Detox for the Camera. Doctor’s Order!". The New York Times.
  12. 1 2 About the Show from the Loveline website
  13. "On the radio: Dr. Drew Pinsky adds KGIL to his practice", Orange County Register, November 22, 2007
  14. http://www.kabc.com/common/page.php?pt=Dr.+Drew+Midday+Live+with+Mike+Catherwood&id=36221&is_corp=0
  15. Liner, Elaine. "Dr. Drew, Back for Celeb Rehab 2 and Talking Sex, Drugs and the New Media Meanness" MediaBizBloggers.com; October 20, 2008
  16. Shanks, Jon. "Dr. Drew: Don't Sweep Heath Ledger Under the Rug" The National Ledger; February 8, 2008
  17. Dawson's Creek, Season 6, Episode 19, "Lovelines"
  18. Family Guy, Season 4, Episode 7, "Brian the Bachelor"
  19. Minoriteam, Season 1, Episode 16, "Tremendous Class"
  20. Robot Chicken, Season 2, Episode 20, "Book of Corrine". Sketches: Robot Chicken Taken Over! and Jasper, the Douchebag Ghost
  21. My Gym Partner's a Monkey, Season 3, Episode 39, "Butt of Jake"
  22. "Dr. Drew Pinsky Biography". BuddyTV. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  23. "Dr. Drew Lands Prime-Time Series on HLN". TVGuide.com. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  24. Wang, Andy. E-Commerce News: News: "Heavyweight Investors Back Loveline's Doctor Drew"; ecommercetimes.com; October 1, 1999
  25. Boulton, Clint. "Is drkoop.com Out of Sick Bay for Good?". internetnews.com. November 2, 2000
  26. "Dr. Drew | Official Website | Dr. Drew On Call, Loveline & more". Dr. Drew | Official Website. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  27. "Adam Carolla Show". Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  28. Hoehn, Melanie. "'Loveline' host Dr. Drew Pinsky to speak at Southeast" Southeast Missourian; February 10, 2010
  29. Zerofsky, Elisabeth. "The Loveline Conservative" Campus Progress; July 23, 2007
  30. Loveline 1999-02-14
  31. "Loveline: About the Show". Retrieved 8 October 2010. Together, [Carolla and Pinsky] refined the format of the show, and capitalized on their growing popularity with speaking tours
  32. Loveline 2003-03-06: Joshua Jackson
  33. Hensley, Scott (2011-12-13). "FDA Tells Weight-Loss Surgery Centers To Pull Misleading Ads". NPR. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  34. "FDA accuses 1-800-GET-THIN of using misleading Lap-Band ads". Los Angeles Times. 2011-12-14. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  35. "Dr. Drew won't talk about 1-800-GET-THIN endorsement". Los Angeles Times. 2011-12-15. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  36. "Dr. Drew's PETA Campaign Advocates To Spay and Neuter Pets". The Huffington Post. 11 August 2012.
  37. "4536 Drewpinsky (1987 DA6)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NASA.
  38. Bollinger, Henri (April 24, 2008). "Television’s Dr. Drew Receives Larry Stewart Leadership Award". Entertainment Industries Council, Inc.
  39. Kaliski, Jessie (November 12, 2012). "Dr. Drew: Guiding People One TV Show at a Time". The Amherst Student. Issue 142-9.
  40. "Dr. Drew Pinsky to Deliver Commencement Address to Keck Class of 2011". April 4, 2011. Keck School of Medicine of USC.
  41. "ABIM - Verification of Physicians certification". Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  42. "ABAM American Board of Addiction Medicine". Diplomate Verification. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  43. "ASAM Certification Verification". Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  44. "About the Show". Loveline with Mike & Dr. Drew. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  45. Sachs, Mark. "His prescription: lots of time spent with the family", The Los Angeles Times, February 27, 2009
  46. Loveline, 1997-11-10, Pinsky mentions the triplets will turn five at midnight
  47. Tawa, Renee (1993-08-19). "The Doctor's in the House Radio: On `Loveline,' scholarly Dr. Drew dispenses advice on sex, drugs and heartache to teen-agers, and tolerates his crass disc jockey pal.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  48. Camelio, Stephen (February 2010). "I'm a Runner: Dr. Drew Pinsky". Runner's World (Rodale Inc.).
  49. Thorpe, Mark (August 2008). "The muscle doctrine". Muscle and Fitness Magazine (Weider Publications).
  50. Loveline broadcast, June 24, 2009. As heard on KROQ-FM radio, Los Angeles.
  51. "Drew Pinsky: Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  52. Drew Pinsky at Yahoo! TV; Accessed July 14, 2010
  53. "Drew Pinsky filmography". The New York Times. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  54. Norris, Chris (December 30, 2009). "Hitting Bottom". The New York Times. p. 2 of 6.
  55. Samantha Lazarus and Adena Raub. "Jewish love expert helps curious students", Mitzpeh, March 21, 2005
  56. Halperin, Shirley (September 24, 2013). "Dr. Drew Reveals Prostate Cancer Battle: 'Without Surgery, I Would Have Died' (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  57. Kevin and Bean interview, January 6, 2011
  58. Ostermeier, Eric (October 2, 2014). "Are Dr. Drew and Adam Carolla Libertarians?". Smart Politics.

External links

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