Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf
Encyclopedia
Henry Joseph Nasiff Jr. (April 20, 1962 – September 4, 2001), better known as Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf, was an American
entertainer. He appeared numerous times on The Howard Stern Show as a member of the show's Wack Pack. He began August 16, 1996 when he entered the studio of radio station
WXRK
(K-Rock) in New York City
. Hank died in Fall River, Massachusetts
, the same city of his birth. He was tall, and weighed 95 lb (43.1 kg; 6.8 st). He was of Lebanese
descent.
Nasiff first came to public prominence in August 1996 after his debut on Howard Stern
's radio show. Stern's producer Gary Dell'Abate
recalled arriving at work and being met by an obviously intoxicated dwarf who aggressively demanded that he be permitted to meet Stern. Dell'Abate immediately answered, "Follow me." Nasiff's first radio appearance that day included a slurred reading of a series of insult punchlines against the Jews, politicians, the British, the Portuguese and several other groups, which Nasiff had scrawled on a piece of paper while waiting to get inside the building.
In 1998, People Magazine ran an online poll
to determine the most beautiful people in the world, where somebody facetiously entered Nasiff as a write-in candidate
. Nasiff won the contest, receiving hundreds of thousands of votes. At the time the online poll was launched, People led voters to believe that it would influence the print magazine
's annual listing of "the most beautiful people." But People refused to allow online votes to influence the magazine results. However, following Nasiff's death three years later People Magazine acknowledged Nasiff's "landslide" victory, noting that he had "best[ed] Brad Pitt, George Clooney and other, more obvious candidates."
The poll was configured so that users could vote multiple times, by deleting a cookie given from the site. Many contestants had scripts written that would allow users to vote repeatedly, and the site "crashed more than once" during the voting period. Other unlikely candidates in that polls' top 10 included They Might Be Giants
keyboardist John Linnell
and pro wrestler Ric Flair
.
In later appearances, Nasiff would sometimes appear in costume, including a tuxedo, a pink bunny suit, a leprechaun outfit and a Superman
suit.
Despite his physical limitations and alcohol-related troubles, Nasiff was intelligent and had an exceptional knowledge of rock music trivia. In an April 2001 appearance, Nasiff competed in a rock and roll trivia contest with Dell'Abate. Despite being so drunk that he was unable to sit upright in his chair, he easily won the quiz. After Hank won the contest, Howard predicted, "He's gonna drop dead, I swear to God." Hank fell half-asleep on the floor shortly afterward, prompting Howard to say, "I don't predict a long life for Hank." He died less than 5 months later.
Stern revealed on his radio show that a show employee had attempted on multiple occasions to get Hank help for his alcoholism, which was refused. While medical experts ruled that his death was a combination of cirrhosis of the liver and internal organ compression due to his height, Nasiff's official cause of death was listed as a seizure disorder on his death certificate.
Nasiff had a brief acting
career which included playing the role of God
in the B-film Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entertainer. He appeared numerous times on The Howard Stern Show as a member of the show's Wack Pack. He began August 16, 1996 when he entered the studio of radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
WXRK
WFNY-FM
WXRK , known on-air as "92.3 Now", is a radio station in New York City. Owned by CBS Radio, WXRK broadcasts a Contemporary Hit Radio format with a rhythmic lean...
(K-Rock) in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Hank died in Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, the same city of his birth. He was tall, and weighed 95 lb (43.1 kg; 6.8 st). He was of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
descent.
Nasiff first came to public prominence in August 1996 after his debut on Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
's radio show. Stern's producer Gary Dell'Abate
Gary Dell'Abate
Gary Patrick Angelo Dell'Abate , also known as "Baba Booey", is an American radio producer, known for being the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show. His autobiography, They Call Me Baba Booey, was released on November 2, 2010.-Early life and career:Dell'Abate was born in Uniondale, New...
recalled arriving at work and being met by an obviously intoxicated dwarf who aggressively demanded that he be permitted to meet Stern. Dell'Abate immediately answered, "Follow me." Nasiff's first radio appearance that day included a slurred reading of a series of insult punchlines against the Jews, politicians, the British, the Portuguese and several other groups, which Nasiff had scrawled on a piece of paper while waiting to get inside the building.
In 1998, People Magazine ran an online poll
Opinion poll
An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
to determine the most beautiful people in the world, where somebody facetiously entered Nasiff as a write-in candidate
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
. Nasiff won the contest, receiving hundreds of thousands of votes. At the time the online poll was launched, People led voters to believe that it would influence the print magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
's annual listing of "the most beautiful people." But People refused to allow online votes to influence the magazine results. However, following Nasiff's death three years later People Magazine acknowledged Nasiff's "landslide" victory, noting that he had "best[ed] Brad Pitt, George Clooney and other, more obvious candidates."
The poll was configured so that users could vote multiple times, by deleting a cookie given from the site. Many contestants had scripts written that would allow users to vote repeatedly, and the site "crashed more than once" during the voting period. Other unlikely candidates in that polls' top 10 included They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
keyboardist John Linnell
John Linnell
John Sidney Linnell is an American musician, is known primarily as one half of Brooklyn, New York alternative rock duo They Might Be Giants...
and pro wrestler Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
.
In later appearances, Nasiff would sometimes appear in costume, including a tuxedo, a pink bunny suit, a leprechaun outfit and a Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
suit.
Despite his physical limitations and alcohol-related troubles, Nasiff was intelligent and had an exceptional knowledge of rock music trivia. In an April 2001 appearance, Nasiff competed in a rock and roll trivia contest with Dell'Abate. Despite being so drunk that he was unable to sit upright in his chair, he easily won the quiz. After Hank won the contest, Howard predicted, "He's gonna drop dead, I swear to God." Hank fell half-asleep on the floor shortly afterward, prompting Howard to say, "I don't predict a long life for Hank." He died less than 5 months later.
Stern revealed on his radio show that a show employee had attempted on multiple occasions to get Hank help for his alcoholism, which was refused. While medical experts ruled that his death was a combination of cirrhosis of the liver and internal organ compression due to his height, Nasiff's official cause of death was listed as a seizure disorder on his death certificate.
Nasiff had a brief acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
career which included playing the role of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
in the B-film Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV
Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV
Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV is a 2000 American superhero comedy film released by Troma Entertainment, directed by Lloyd Kaufman...
.
External links
- "An Unexpected Connection," by Dan Kennedy, Unitarian Universalist World, March/April 2002