The Doctor Is In— Dr Drew Pinsky
Posted on May 2, 2009
Filed Under East meets West, Guest Columnist | Leave a Comment
by Susan L. Stackpole
Dr. Drew Pinsky is the Hollywood “go to†physician for addiction issues, teen pregnancy, sex questions, and more. Famous for shows like Loveline, “Celebrity Rehab, Sober House, Sex…with Mom and Dad, have catapulted Dr. Drew to celebrity status. The son of a physician and actress, Pinsky attended Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California, went on to major at biology at Amherst College, and earned his MD at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in 1984. Pinsky is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He is also Medical Director for the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, California, staff member at Huntington Memorial Hospital, and a private practitioner. Pinsky married Susan Sailer in 1991, has three children, Jordan, Douglas, and Paulina and enjoys opera, traveling, and body surfing.
Like many Hollywood icons, Pinsky has had a fascinating rise to celebrity. He was once a contestant on an episode of Wheel of Fortune (1984) and received a year’s worth of Turtle Wax and forty gallons of Sunny Delight as consolation prizes. Pinsky’s claim to fame came when Loveline debuted on MTV in 1995, hosted by Dr. Drew and Adam Corolla. Dr. Drew Live, another nationally syndicated talk radio show, ran from November 2007 through December 2008 on KGIL in Los Angeles, focusing on relationships and mental health. Pinsky has been a guest on MSNBC, The Tyra Banks Show, and Tom Green Live and became known as a health and human relations expert on Big Brother. He hosted Strictly Sex with Dr. Drew on the Discovery Health Channel, and Strictly Dr. Drew. Pinsky stars in Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Sober House, and Sex…with Mom and Dad, airing weekly on MTV.
Pinksy made his acting debut playing the father of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson’s characters in New York minute. He also appeared on The Man Show, Wild Hogs, and Dawson’s Creek. He has been a voice character actor on Family Guy, Robot Chicken, and Crank Yonkers. Pinsky has made several literary contributions, including, “When Painkillers Become Dangerousâ€. Journal of Research in Personality 2006 published Pinsky’s study on celebrities and narcissism. He’s penned two books with Harper Collins, “Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again†and his latest book, “Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing Americaâ€.
Pinsky was the subject of controversy when he stated to Playboy Magazine in 2008 that Tom Cruise’s affinity for Scientology was the “function of a very deep emptiness and suggests some serious childhood neglect.†Cruise’s lawyer, Bert Fields, called Pinsky an “unqualified television performerâ€. Pinsky’s representative later apologized on his behalf, stating, “Dr. Drew meant no harm to Mr. Cruise and apologizes if his comments where hurtful.â€
Pinsky has made several literary contributions, including, “When Painkillers Become Dangerousâ€. Journal of Research in Personality 2006 published Pinsky’s study on celebrities and narcissism. He’s penned two books with Harper Collins, “Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again†and his latest book, “Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing Americaâ€. Pinsky’s latest book addresses the social consequences of coveting celebrity lifestyles.
Dr. Drew was quoted in The New York Times, February 2008, stating, “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.†Pinsky travels in celebrity circles and is accessible to the general public through facebook, myspace, twitter and more. Pinksy sheds much needed light on weighty social issues, like sex and addiction, while managing to communicate practical knowledge in a way inspires individuals to make healthier choices. Rock on, Dr. Drew.
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