Art Bell, hosted a popular syndicated radio show for decades, has died at the age of 72 — on Friday the 13th, appropriately enough.
Bell died in his home in Pahrump, Nevada, according to the Nye County sheriff’s office.
He started out as a disc jockey but drifted into political talk radio in the 1970s and saw a ratings boost when he veered into the realm of conspiracy theories and the paranormal. He espoused his belief in alien abductions, ghosts, crop circles report — and even that the Hale-Bopp comet that neared the Earth in 1986 was being followed by a UFO.
Soon, his late-night show “Coast to Coast” gained national syndication and allowed him to broadcast from his own Pahrump-based radio station, KNYE 95.1 FM. At the height of his fame, as many as 500 stations carried his show in the U.S. and Canada.
Bell also made cameo appearances (typically as himself) in movies like 2007’s “I Know Who Killed Me” and TV shows like “Dark Skies.”
n a 1999 interview with Larry King on CNN, Bell displayed the even-keeled tone and that made his out-there theorizing seem so reasonable and inviting.
“People are always demanding proof,” he told King at one point. “These are things that are not easily proved.”
Brett S
Great interview, it’s true we don’t look up a lot and in the forest we’re blind
Duane A
Art Bell, the grandfather of all things magical and mysterious has moved on to another realm. I used to listen him on the big 50,000 watt blowtorch WBT out of Charlotte, NC. Sail on! you magnificent bastard you!
Danny G
RIP Art.
I was the camera man on that interview for LKL.
Although I was a young man, I was a fan of coast to coast and we talked at length in the green room.
He was truly a class act.
Barbara W
Thank you for sharing your memory.
Janeda E
The Duece you say. So many fond memories listening late at night. May Angel’s sing thee to thy rest. I will never forget “the voice”.
Forrest W
One of the best interviewers of all time. I use to record Coast to Coast & Dreamland on Casette
Rick T
The King is gone, but he will not be forgotten. This is sad and shocking news indeed. He will remain the King of late-night talk radio, certainly in my mind and countless others, I’m sure. Rest in peace, Art Bell.
Danial K
My two favorite radio voices: Paul Harvey and Art Bell. R.I.P., Art. Many great nights listening to Art and being scared half to death.
Dennis S
It was with great sadness that I heard the news of his Art’s passing. Art kept me company for many nights back in the 1990’s during a difficult period in my life. He will be missed.
Mauri G
What a amazing man,he stated Coast to Coast and made a lot of us think about things we never had before.He definitely help bring the paranormal into the mainstream
Taylor W
My thoughts are with his family
Pete M
Art was my gateway to this topic, I discovered his show back in the 90’s while working the midnight shift. I loved that he wasn’t afraid to ask hard questions, look up the show where he interviewed the guy in north Texas that claims he and two buddies killed a male and female Bigfoot while poaching. Rest in peace Art Bell, you’ll be missed.
William P
I stumbled onto Art in the 90s and entered into a world where magic still existed and mystery was an everyday thing. Im forever grateful. RIP Mr. Bell!
Charles R
I have been a talk radio junkie since the first Gulf War. I will never forget while listening to Chuck Harder’s “For the People” daily 3 hour show while living in Palm Springs. A caller said you have to listen to this guy Art Bell, and the subjects he covers. At nightime I would tune into him that evolved into Coast To Coast AM, and I was hooked. No matter the topic of High Strangeness or how weird the interviewee or subject matter was, Art had a tremendous ability to present it and ask great questions and never berate the interviewee. He left plenty of time to get calls from listeners that would recount their experiences, I would think, dang, this is happening to a lot of people. Due to the great guests he brought on I was able to come to terms with my early life experience with the greys. It greatly furthered my yearning for UFO and Bigfoot knowledge, and many other topics also that are seldom discussed. His wife at that time Ramona died trajectly and early in life and I think that left a huge void in his heart and why he exited C2CAM way to early. At least George Noory has done a fantastic job since his departure, but I will always consider Art Bell the best interviewer, no matter the subject there ever was.
R I P Art. Perhaps you now will gain those answers that are so darn tough to come by in our material realm. Good bye from The Kingdom of NYE.
Lisa H
i remember Art being on the radio when i would drive to work in the dark; some of the things that were on coast to coast were so scary i would be afraid to look into the backseat of may car. When i would get to work some of the customers would talk about the program that had just been on air & we would discuss the latest guest & story on the show. Im still a Coast to Coast Insider love that show & SC thank u
Leahpatra
I was shocked when I heard of his death. I was a loyal listener every night since 1995.
Then I was sad he was no longer on the air due to some kind of death threats.
I missed him so much and started listening to George Noory. Good but not the same.
Then a year ago I discovered his podcast with Heather Wade as host. After a few months
I realized he had trained her with his style. Its incredible how good she is at this since she was
his producer. She must be devastated and I pray for her as well as his family.
I hope she continues to do the show. Or I will be at a total loss.
RIP Art Bell
Stephen C
Great interviewer coast to coast was the first show on the radio I’d ever listened to about bf among other things – prayers for him and his family – rip art bell