Henry Joseph Nasiff Jr. (April 20, 1962 – September 4, 2001), better known professionally as Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf, was an American entertainer.
Hank's career began August 16, 1996, when he entered Stern's studio at radio station WXRK (K-Rock) in New York City.
When the public was given the option to submit a write-in candidate, the magazine had not counted on 230,169 votes for Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf—beating out assorted celebrities by a wide margin.
In the early years of public participation on the Internet, media critics responded by wondering whether this was evidence of an emerging digital democracy.
His mother, Claudette, taught him from a young age that he could do whatever he set his mind to do, and Hank learned to ride a bike and participated in Little League Baseball for several seasons.
Although doctors had said that he would eventually require more surgery, Hank put off doing it and ultimately opted to not undergo another operation.
[3] Before being associated with The Howard Stern Show, Hank had a bit part in an ongoing performance of Finnegans Wake at a Boston dinner theater.
[5] Hank met Howard Stern on August 16, 1996, after driving to New York City with a friend from the Boston dinner theatre.
[8]Hank's first appearance that day included reading a series of one-sentence jabs against various groups and ethnicities which he had scrawled on a piece of paper the night before.
[9] If they put your brain in a parrot it would fly backwards[5] Hank asserted from his first on-air conversation with Stern that he be referred to as a dwarf and not a midget, and was quick to correct anyone who violated this rule, viewing it as an issue of respect.
"[9] From his first appearance until his death five years later, Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf became a popular character on the show.
"[4] Behind Hank's public persona, an underlying "good nature" tended to shine through, which fans seemed to recognize.
There were indications that People's editors simply assumed that the film's leading star, Leonardo DiCaprio, would automatically garner the most votes.
[14] The following Tuesday, the official poll results were posted and Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf had won by a landslide with 230,169 votes.
[18] Some observers concluded that the reaction by the public to vote for Hank was a veiled commentary on how the media assumes that the masses are easily manipulated into liking what is marketed to them.
"[6] Whenever Hank appeared on The Howard Stern Show inevitably he would be carrying a green plastic bottle of Sprite or some other soda mixed with vodka.
Hank would don a costume for some appearances, such as when he was an angel with wings and a halo; a leprechaun; or dressed as Superman.
[21] On March 4, 1998, Hank dressed in a pink rabbit suit, took a succession of phone calls from Stern listeners, sang karaoke to Led Zeppelin songs, and blew a .375 on a breathalyzer test.
[23] Hank had his 1970s-era hair cut at a salon; had a manicure; received an eye exam and new glasses; got fitted for a tuxedo; and was supposed to have his teeth cleaned at a dentist, but was too inebriated.
started managing Hank, and soon he was being offered various paying gigs to make appearances at bachelor parties, bars, strip clubs, etc.
[7] His manager related in an interview that "Hank was diligent in finding out every fine detail about his appearances and treated them with the utmost professionalism.
"[2] In 1999 Hank was hired by Interplay Entertainment to promote the developer's upcoming video game Messiah.
[26] On November 29, 2000, Hank again dressed up in his iconic bunny costume and was sent by Stern to disrupt extreme performer David Blaine during his Frozen in Time stunt.
[27] Speaking remotely through a portable microphone connection, Stern initially wanted Hank to urinate on the statue or streak by it.
[31] Hank made at least one appearance on WWF Raw is War on May 25, 1998, being presented by The Jackyl as Oddities;[32] and starred in a local commercial selling used cars.
[34] In 2000, Hank had a supporting actor role in the film Shoe Shine Boys playing a mustached felon named Leo Henry Williams.
During a Stern Show segment in August 1999 in which Howie Mandel was the guest, Hank explained that when he reduced his intake of alcohol it precipitated him to go into a seizure during an appearance in California.
On his first appearance on the Stern Show he related how he had been sexually abused by a male when he was seven years old (Hank explained that it was someone unrelated to him).