Eric the Actor

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I've been listening to Howard Stern for a lot of years. I remember talking about the start of his career when I was in college and I was a little thrown at first, but soon became a regular listener.

Howard is actually a decent guy.

He did earn his reputation in the early days, but if you listen to him now you know that he was a character in his own life. He's actually thoughtful, funny and entertaining.

And if you listen to a show every day you sort of get to know all of the characters, and Howard has a whack-pack...a group of misfits, really, who do all sorts of crazy things.

Some are disabled.

Like Eric the Actor...who had originally been Eric the Midget.

Eric died over the weekend at the age of 37.

He wasn't supposed to live much past 20.

And for the uninitiated Eric was a mean little bastard who demanded that he be treated the right way...by Howard...by the fans...by everyone.

His phone calls were usually demands of the staff to attend VIP events or be placed in a movie or on a television show.

Howard helped him live a really nice full life, and while he busted on Eric every step of the way...he really made the man's dreams come true.

There were days when Eric would be on the show when I'd think, "Man, he's rough! Hang up on him!!"

But Eric entertained.

And he taught me a few lessons along the way.

He never wanted to be pitied.

He never bitched about his life...and he really got a raw deal...he tried to be funny in his own way.

And I felt lousy when I heard that he had passed.

RIP Eric the Actor.

You were a legend.

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