12 Facts About Don Steele

Don Steele was better known as "The Real Don Steele," a name suggested by his program director, Steve Brown, at KOIL-AM in Omaha, Nebraska.

Don Steele became nationally known as a DJ on radio station KHJ in Los Angeles, where he helped to promote the "ultrahip" top-40 Boss Radio format which began at 3pm on April 27,1965.

Don Steele appeared on TV as host of Boss City and The Real Don Steele TV Show, a show which ran from 1965 to 1975 on KHJ-TV channel 9 in Los Angeles.

Don Steele gained additional notoriety due to an ill-fated promotion which KHJ undertook on behalf of his show during the summer of 1970.

Don Steele recorded commercials and at one time had a successful, nationally syndicated radio show.

Don Steele is the DJ on Cheap Trick's "On the Radio".

Don Steele's career took a dive in the mid-1980s, at which time a copywriter directing him as a voiceover for a Sea World radio spot introduced him to legendary voice actor Ernie Anderson.

Don Steele died of lung cancer on August 5,1997, at the age of 61.

Don Steele received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 3,1995.

Don Steele appeared in several films, many times playing a disc jockey, in films such as Death Race 2000, Grand Theft Auto, Rock 'n' Roll High School, Eating Raoul, and Gremlins.

Don Steele appeared as himself in KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park.

On prime-time TV, Don Steele had appearances in a 1966 episode of Bewitched, and in an episode of Here Come the Brides in 1970.