Chicago sports radio icon Harry Teinowitz dies at 64 following liver transplant complications

Chicago is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved voices in sports broadcasting. Harry Teinowitz, a longtime radio host known for his humor and heart, has died at the age of 64 due to complications following a liver transplant, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Teinowitz rose to prominence in the 1990s as a co-host of a sports comedy show on WMVP (ESPN 1000). He later became a fan favorite through his work on the hit radio program Mac, Jurko & Harry, which began in 2001. The show earned a loyal following, and Teinowitz became a staple of Chicago’s sports scene, known for his creative humor and unwavering energy.

“He just had a million ideas and he always wanted to be funny,” said former co-host Carmen DeFalco. “He always committed to the bit. If it flopped, he didn’t care. He just wanted to try.”

Outside of radio, Teinowitz was also an actor and playwright. He played a small role in the 1983 film Risky Business and later turned personal struggle into art with his 2021 play When Harry Met Rehab, which was inspired by his recovery journey following a DUI arrest. The play was performed in Chicago and later had a run off-Broadway in New York.

Tributes have poured in from across the sports world. ESPN Chicago honored him on social media, and Jarrett Payton, son of NFL legend Walter Payton, shared, “Harry was the kind of friend everyone hopes to have.”