The Life and Career of
Jack Hawn
Jack Hawn, born in 1930 in Kearney, Nebraska, spent his formative years in Southern California, where his father—an Irish farm boy nicknamed Sham—ran a leased service station and later opened the Shamrock Inn, a beer and wine tavern, on St. Patrick’s Day, 1947, in Oak View near Ojai.
"Actor Tony Danza, a former professional boxer, does the signing after Jack's interview: "If I could fight like you can write, I'd be a champ!"
"Jack and Charlene, in their early 20's, found life raising four children had its ups and downs for a struggling journalist. The couple were married 63 years."
In 1970, Jack was hired by the Los Angeles Times at the age of 40. There, he thrived as a boxing columnist and later as an entertainment writer, covering events such as Muhammad Ali title fights, boxing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, interviewing and writing about entertainment legends such as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Outside the newsroom, Jack pursued freelance work, writing radio and television scripts for sportscasters and episodes for TV series that included “12 O’clock High,” “Gunsmoke” and other top-rated shows. An episode for the popular series about B-17 bombing raids during World War II titled “The All-American,” led to a staff job as Story Consultant. It lasted six months before the long-running series was canceled by the network.
Soon Jack was back freelancing. His 43-year career is a testament to unplanned ambition and natural storytelling. Since his retirement in 1991, Jack has continued sharing his journey through memoirs and books, capturing not just the events of his life but the heart and humor behind them.