Photo: simononly / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Howard Finkel was listed as a manager, journalist and professional wrestling ring announcer. Howard Finkel was born in Newark, New Jersey, United States on June 7, 1950. Death is recorded on April 16, 2020, at the age of 69. Listed accolades include WWE Hall of Fame (2009) and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (2018).
My Take
What strikes me about Howard Finkel is how he turned a supporting role into something iconic. He never needed a finishing move to leave a mark; a single ring announcement could lift an entire arena. As WWE's longest-serving employee across four decades, he embodied the unglamorous loyalty that holds an organization together. I find his story more compelling than many headline stars, precisely because it celebrates craft over spectacle. His Hall of Fame inductions feel earned, not ceremonial. When he passed in 2020, wrestling lost a voice that defined an era, and I still hear it whenever I picture a packed Madison Square Garden.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Howard Finkel
- Name (Japanese)
- ハワード・フィンケル
- Reading
- はわーど・ふぃんける
- Born
- June 7, 1950 – April 16, 2020
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Tiger
- Origin
- Newark, New Jersey, United States
- Occupation
- manager / journalist / professional wrestling ring announcer
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 2009 WWE Hall of Fame
- 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Howard Finkel born?
Born June 7, 1950.
When did Howard Finkel die?
Died April 16, 2020, aged 69.
Where was Howard Finkel from?
Howard Finkel was from Newark, New Jersey, United States.
What did Howard Finkel do?
Howard Finkel worked as manager, journalist, professional wrestling ring announcer.
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