Jack Hanna
An exuberant zookeeper who used television charisma to bring wildlife into American homes and transform a regional zoo into a major attraction.
Born 1947 (age 79)·American zookeeper and wildlife conservationist·Birthday: January 2·Baby Boomers
Biography
With his signature khaki shorts, Ohio accent, and fearless handling of animals on live TV, Jack Hanna became America's most recognizable zookeeper. He took the helm of the struggling Columbus Zoo in 1978 and infused it with his boundless enthusiasm, spearheading expansions and modernization that turned it into a world-class destination. But his true impact was as a broadcast ambassador. Through countless appearances on shows like 'Late Night with David Letterman,' where animals often stole the scene, and his own syndicated programs, Hanna demystified wildlife with a folksy, accessible charm. He framed conservation as an exciting adventure, inspiring a generation to care about animals. While later years brought criticism over some practices, his role in popularizing zoology and connecting millions to the natural world remains a defining part of his legacy.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Jack was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jack Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Jack's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Director of the Columbus Zoo from 1978 to 1992, overseeing its transformation into a nationally recognized institution.
- Hosted multiple wildlife television series, including 'Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures' and 'Into the Wild'.
- Appointed Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, a title he held after retirement.
- His frequent media appearances, especially on late-night talk shows, made animal education a form of prime-time entertainment.
Did You Know?
He famously brought a baby cheetah onto the set of 'Late Show with David Letterman', which promptly urinated on Letterman's desk.
Hanna served on the board of the National Rifle Association (NRA) for several years.
He received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina's highest civilian awards.
In 2021, he publicly announced he had been diagnosed with dementia, likely Alzheimer's disease.
“When you have an animal, you have a responsibility. It's not a toy.”
