Steve Wilkos

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This article is about the person. For the talk show, see The Steve Wilkos Show.
Steve Wilkos

Born March 9, 1964 (1964-03-09) (age 44)
Chicago, Illinois
Other names Steven John Wilkos (birth name)
Occupation talk show host
Known for director of security for The Jerry Springer Show (1994-2007), the talk show host of The Steve Wilkos Show (2007-present)
Spouse Rachelle Consiglio
Website
http://www.stevewilkos.com

Steven John Wilkos (/ˈwɪlˌko(ʊ)s/, born March 9, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois)[1] is an American television personality, former Marine and Chicago police officer. [2] He currently hosts his own talk show, The Steve Wilkos Show. Best known as the former director of security on The Jerry Springer Show, Wilkos had previously substituted for Springer as host on many occasions before being given his own talk show. His wife Rachelle Consiglio is a supervising producer for Springer as well as his own show; she and Steve have two children together.[3]

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[edit] Personal background

Steve Wilkos was born to a Polish-American family in 1964. After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1982 to 1989, joining the Chicago Police Department in 1990.[1][2] In May 1994, the producers of The Jerry Springer Show, taped in Chicago, needed security guards for a Ku Klux Klan-related show, so they decided to hire off-duty police. Wilkos has since worked part-time for Springer security. [4] He recruited several fellow officers for the job[2], and has been with the show since, leaving the police department in 2001.

In 2002, Entertainment Weekly reported that Wilkos became a professional wrestler with the Maryland Champion Wrestling League, during a temporary production hiatus of Springer.[5] [6] In 2005, Wilkos appeared as a guest on Check, Please!, a restaurant-reviewing program on Chicago's PBS station, WTTW.[7]

Beyond Springer, he has appeared in cameo roles for the show The Simpsons and the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.[3]

[edit] Talk show

Main article: The Steve Wilkos Show

In January 2007, NBC Universal Television officially announced that Wilkos would host a talk show of his own based at NBC Tower in Chicago. The self-titled program is expected to serve as a companion to Springer and already has attracted the attention of major broadcasting groups, premiering on September 10, 2007 to high ratings.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Steve Wilkos. NNDB (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
  2. ^ a b c Weller, Sam (1998-01-12). Talk Toughs. Weekly Wire. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
  3. ^ a b About Steve Wilkos. WGN-TV (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
  4. ^ Graham, Colin (1999). Steve's Interview. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
  5. ^ Hiatt, Brian (2002-03-29). ABC Cancels "Once and Again". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2008-01-01.
  6. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MulVYofTEr4
  7. ^ Vivienne on Check Please!. Toyus Interruptus (2005-10-20). Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
  8. ^ Pursell, Chris (2007-09-11). ‘TMZ,’ ‘Wilkos’ Have Strong Debuts in Syndication. TV Week. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.

[edit] External links