Glenn Beck - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Born in Mount Vernon, Washington, Glenn Beck was raised a Roman Catholic. He graduated from Sehome High School in Bellingham, Washington in 1982.
His early life was pitted with tragedies. His mother committed suicide when he was 13. One of his brothers also committed suicide. Another sibling reportedly had a fatal heart attack.[6]
Beck is a self-described reformed alcoholic and drug addict.[7] In the aftermath of those three family tragedies, Beck said he used "Dr. Jack Daniels" and heavy drugs to cope. He and his first wife divorced amid his struggle with substance abuse. Beck cites the help of Alcoholics Anonymous in his sobriety, and he eventually converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which teaches against the consumption of alcohol.
Beck has spoken often of his religious beliefs and conversion. "God stalked me!...He had a giant baptismal rifle," Beck said. "I thwarted him. I led people astray as much I could but he kept putting Mormons in my way."[8]
Beck has two teenage daughters, Hannah and Mary, by his first marriage; Mary has cerebral palsy. He has two children, Raphe (adopted in 2004) and Cheyenne (born 2006), with his second wife, Tania.
On January 4, 2008, Beck posted a video on YouTube about a recent surgery he describes as "botched." Beck vaguely described his treatment at an unnamed hospital as gone "horribly awry," and recalled apprehension and suicidal thoughts brought on by sedation and his medication. He returned to radio on January 7, and indicated that he had been in for what he jokingly referred to as "butt surgery." He indicated that prior to his recent book tour he "started with three" and by the time the tour was over, he "had eight." He also joked that listeners would make jokes about "roid rage."