Howard Stern has made it clear that the day he loses his parents will be absolutely heartbreaking. This goes without saying, but Howard has had an incredibly close (albeit challenging) relationship with both his mom and dad. And so does his audience. This is because Howard has made stars out of his parents. Just like he's done for many of his staffers, Howard has found a way to make his seemingly normal parents into recognizable stars. Given that Howard and his ilk get most of their exposure on the radio, that's an impressive accomplishment.
Howard Stern Show fans have fallen in love with Ben and Ray Stern ever since the earliest days of Howard's incredible career. While Howard has gone through a personal and creative transformation, his parents have not. They remain pretty much the same people that they have always been. The only thing is... they've basically disappeared. Even though Howard's impressions of his mom and dad are downright hilarious and are featured almost daily on his SiriusXM show, there was a time when Ben and Ray would stop by the studio or call in. But those days are gone. Here's precisely what happened to Howard's parents...
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Updated August 12, 2022: In an interview with Dan's Paper about his artwork, Howard Stern announced that his father, Ben, had recently passed away. While Howard has not yet mentioned an exact date of death, he did say that Ben was 99 years old when he left. Howard has yet to talk about his dad's passing on his Sirius XM show. At the time of this update, Howard's mother, Ray, continues to go through significant health issues which is why she hasn't returned to her son's show.
Howard's Parents Were Some Of The Best Guests On The Stern Show
In Howard Stern's 2019 book "Howard Stern Comes Again", the hefty all-star tutorial on the art of the interview, he claimed that his mother was one of the best guests he's ever had on his show. This is because she was a great foil to all the edgy questions he'd throw at her. They included, but were simply not limited to, the topics of his conception, his mother's grooming techniques, and whether she knew her son had a small appendage. While Ray Stern was always quite liberal and into some new-age meditation techniques, she was still a very old-school woman. And she would discipline her adult son live on air... it made for wonderful entertainment.
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Even though Howard loved to push the limits with his mother, with who he shared a somewhat complicated relationship growing up, there was always a great deal of affection between them. He was and still is, a momma's boy.
As for his father... well, their relationship was unquestionably complicated. Some of the best bits on The Stern Show involve Howard recalling how hilariously distant his father was when Howard was a child. Not to mention the fact that Ben simply couldn't relate to kids nor really share any real emotion with his son besides disappointment and frustration... "I told you not to be stupid, you moron!"
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Still, Ben was also a great guest on The Howard Stern Show. Both his parents were very supportive of Howard's schtick... even when they disagreed with the things he did or said for entertainment or shock value. They loved their son. They loved his co-host, Robin Quivers. And they certainly loved his wife, Beth. So, why did they stop coming on the show by the mid-2010s?
What Happened To Ben And Ray Stern?
Howard has always been honest about the trials and tribulations of his parents. This includes the tragic stories of poverty, death, and abuse both his parents suffered. But most of the time Howard finds the satirical spin on these stories. The same is true for their old age. And this is simply why they haven't appeared on the show for a while... They are too old. They are too fragile. And prior to his death, Howard's father was extremely hard of hearing.
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During a recent segment on The Howard Stern Show, the radio legend explained how he and Beth recently visited his parents at their home. Howard had spent little time with them during the pandemic to keep them and himself safe.
Howard's father was 99 when he passed away and was breaking down long before that. He'd been in and out of hospital for various medical issues. While Howard claimed his father was still somewhat "with-it" before his death, it was increasingly challenging for him to hold conversations.
The same isn't true for his mother, but she has become more and more depressed with the state of the world and even more particular than she used to be. On his show, Howard joked that he's "abused by the elderly" when he goes to visit.
Nevertheless, Howard maintained a strong relationship with his parents and continues to care for his mom now that his father has passed.
