# Jerry Doyle
**Jerry Doyle** (Gerard T. Doyle, born in 1956 according to most sources; died July 27, 2016) was an American talk radio host, political commentator, and television actor best known for playing security chief Michael Garibaldi on the syndicated science fiction series *Babylon 5* and for hosting the nationally syndicated program *The Jerry Doyle Show*.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle) • [2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jerry-doyle) His birth year is recorded inconsistently: the Television Academy lists July 16, 1955,[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jerry-doyle) while Encyclopedia.com and other references give July 16, 1956.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 in Brooklyn, New York (Television Academy lists 1955); full name Gerard T. Doyle[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle) • [2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jerry-doyle) |
| Signature role | Michael Alfredo Garibaldi, chief of security on *Babylon 5*, syndicated, 1994–1998, five seasons[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle) |
| Radio reach | Early 2012, *The Jerry Doyle Show* was the sixth most popular talk radio program in the country, averaging 3.75 million listeners per week; by 2013 it aired on over 350 stations[3](https://rbr.com/jerry-doyle-to-headline-at-babylon-5/) |
| Political run | Republican candidate for California's 24th congressional district in 2000, losing to incumbent Brad Sherman[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-01-me-45158-story.html) |
| Online publishing | Founded EpicTimes, a conservative-libertarian content platform, in February 2013; the site was later blocked in China[5](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/actor-turned-radio-host-jerry-doyle-dead-at-60.amp) |
| Died | July 27, 2016, found dead at his Las Vegas home at age 60; the cause of death was not immediately known[5](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/actor-turned-radio-host-jerry-doyle-dead-at-60.amp) • [6](https://reason.com/2016/07/29/jerry-doyle-rip-radio-host-and-babylon-5/) |
## Early life and finance career
Doyle was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a father who was a police officer and a mother who was a homemaker, and he was raised in New Jersey.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle) • [6](https://reason.com/2016/07/29/jerry-doyle-rip-radio-host-and-babylon-5/) He earned a degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and received flight training;[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle) the *Los Angeles Times* places the degree in 1979, other references in 1978.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-01-me-45158-story.html)**Before broadcasting, Doyle held a series of occupations.** He worked for several years as a private jet pilot and in the marketing and sales of corporate jets for Falcon Jet Corp. in New Jersey, then spent roughly a decade on [Wall Street](https://www.edgepedia.org/wall-street) as a stockbroker at Prudential Bache and an investment banker at Drexel Burnham.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle) Describing his later change of course, he said he was 35 and in a position to try whatever he wanted: the Air Force had told him he was too old to fly fighter jets, he considered becoming a fishing boat captain, and acting "seemed pretty cool," so in 1991 he moved to Hollywood with no prior acting experience.[3](https://rbr.com/jerry-doyle-to-headline-at-babylon-5/)
## Acting career
His first television work was on *Moonlighting* in 1987 as one of several candidates to replace [Bruce Willis](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-willis)'s character, followed by a recurring role as a lawyer on *The Bold and the Beautiful* that lasted nearly a year.[3](https://rbr.com/jerry-doyle-to-headline-at-babylon-5/)*Babylon 5* was Doyle's first major leading role, and he shot the pilot in July 1992.[7](https://ohiomediawatch.wordpress.com/2005/06/26/wcercanton-picks-replacement-for-michael-savage/) As Michael Garibaldi, the chief of security on the Emmy-winning series, he appeared through all five seasons from 1994 to 1998 and completed his 110th episode in 1998, landing on the cover of *TV Guide*.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jerry-doyle) • [7](https://ohiomediawatch.wordpress.com/2005/06/26/wcercanton-picks-replacement-for-michael-savage/) Doyle joked that on the show he was "a Brooklyn Irishman playing an Australian from Mars." He reprised Garibaldi in the television movies *Babylon 5: The Gathering* (1993), *Babylon 5: The River of Souls* (1998), and *Babylon 5: A Call to Arms* (1999).[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle)
**Other acting work ran alongside and after the series.** From 1996 to 1997 he voiced the title character in the animated *Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys*, and his episodic credits included *Reasonable Doubts*, *Homefront*, *[Renegade](https://www.edgepedia.org/renegade-tv-series)*, *Sliders*, *Martial Law*, *Beverly Hills, 90210*, *JAG*, and *NYPD Blue*, with small film roles in *Lost Treasure* (2003) and *The Long Ride Home* (2003).[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jerry-doyle) • [1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle)
## Talk radio
Doyle entered talk radio in 2004 with a local show in [Arlington, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/arlington-texas), before launching the syndicated program distributed by Talk Radio Network (TRN).[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle) A March 2007 trade notice reported his affiliate count had grown past 240 stations, including 28 FM stations, and called his program the fastest-growing show in TRN Enterprises' history.[8](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2007/RR-2007-03-09.pdf) By early 2012 the weekday afternoon show, airing 3 to 6 p.m.
TRN CEO Mark Masters, who said he had worked with Doyle for over 12 years, described him on Doyle's death as "a dear friend and a prince of a human being."[5](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/actor-turned-radio-host-jerry-doyle-dead-at-60.amp)
## Politics, EpicTimes, and commentary
In 2000 Doyle put his acting career on hold to run as the Republican candidate against Democratic incumbent [Brad Sherman](https://www.edgepedia.org/brad-sherman) in California's 24th congressional district, which included Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Malibu, and Sherman Oaks.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-01-me-45158-story.html) He lost to Sherman, who outspent him heavily; Doyle reported about $62,000 remaining in mid-October against Sherman's $300,000.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-01-me-45158-story.html) His platform included repealing the estate tax, allowing partial private investment of [Social Security](https://www.edgepedia.org/social-security), and supporting school vouchers.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-01-me-45158-story.html)
**EpicTimes extended his broadcasting into online publishing.** In 2009 he published the book *Have You Seen My Country Lately? America's Wake Up Call*.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jerry-doyle) His political outlook is generally described as right-libertarian; *Reason* magazine's Nick Gillespie, whose staff appeared on the show repeatedly, recalled a host who "wasn't a rabid ideologue or partisan" and whose rallying cry was "It's not Left vs Right, it's right vs wrong!"[6](https://reason.com/2016/07/29/jerry-doyle-rip-radio-host-and-babylon-5/)
## Death
Doyle was found dead at his home in northwest Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, after police were called around 4 p.m.; the death did not appear suspicious, and an autopsy and toxicology tests were scheduled to determine the cause.[5](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/actor-turned-radio-host-jerry-doyle-dead-at-60.amp) He was 60 years old.[5](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/actor-turned-radio-host-jerry-doyle-dead-at-60.amp) Talk Radio Network and America's Talk Network announced they would continue producing and distributing *The Jerry Doyle Show* with guest hosts.[5](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/actor-turned-radio-host-jerry-doyle-dead-at-60.amp)
## References
1. [Doyle, Jerry 1956- (Gerard T. Doyle), Encyclopedia.com, *Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television*](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/doyle-jerry-1956-gerard-t-doyle)
2. [Jerry Doyle, Television Academy biography (Variety obituary)](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jerry-doyle)
3. [Jerry Doyle to headline at "Babylon 5", Radio & Television Business Report, February 18, 2013](https://rbr.com/jerry-doyle-to-headline-at-babylon-5/)
4. [Sherman, Doyle Offer Stark Differences, Los Angeles Times, November 1, 2000](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-01-me-45158-story.html)
5. [Actor-turned-radio host Jerry Doyle dead at 60, Fox News, July 28, 2016](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/actor-turned-radio-host-jerry-doyle-dead-at-60.amp)
6. [Jerry Doyle, RIP. Radio Host and Babylon 5 Star Was 60., Reason, July 29, 2016](https://reason.com/2016/07/29/jerry-doyle-rip-radio-host-and-babylon-5/)
7. [WCER/Canton Picks Replacement For Michael Savage, Ohio Media Watch, June 26, 2005](https://ohiomediawatch.wordpress.com/2005/06/26/wcercanton-picks-replacement-for-michael-savage/)
8. [Jerry Doyle Ratings Skyrockets in Fall Book, Radio & Records, March 9, 2007](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2007/RR-2007-03-09.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Broadcasting and journalism › Broadcast organizations and stations › Broadcast networks and channel brands › Radio networks and syndication › Syndicated radio programs and personalities*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license