Thomas Raymond Bergeron (born May 6, 1955) is an American television personality, comedian, 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.
Tom Bergeron
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Bergeron in 2009
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| Born | Thomas Raymond Bergeron (1955-05-06) May 6, 1955 (age 69)
Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Occupations |
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| 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 |
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 areaofNew 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]
From 1994 to 1997, Bergeron co-hosted the morning show Breakfast TimeonFX 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 seasonofThe Masked Singer as "Taco".[12]
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.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Rock Slyde | Randy Wonder | |
| 2018 | Candy Jar | Principal Nelson |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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!" |
| 2012-2014, 2016 | A Capitol Fourth | Himself/host | |
| 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" |
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by
John Davidson |
Host of Hollywood Squares 1998–2004 |
Succeeded by
Peter Rosenberg |
| 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 |
| Preceded by
Daisy Fuentes & John Fugelsang |
Host of America's Funniest Home Videos 2001–2015 |
Succeeded by
Alfonso Ribeiro |
| Preceded by | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host 2000 tie with Bob Barker |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Wayne Brady (2002) |
Host of Miss America 2003 |
Succeeded by Chris Harrison (2003) |
