Todd Hillier (March 31, 1964 – August 14, 2021), better known by his on-air name Fez Marie Whatley, was an American comedian and radio producer and personality who gained prominence as the co-host of ''
The Ron and Fez Show
''The Ron and Fez Show'' was an American talk radio show hosted by Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley, which aired from August 1998 to April 2015.
After a run in Tampa, Florida as part of '' The Ron and Ron Show'', and then several other stints in D ...
'' with
Ron Bennington
Ronald Lee Bennington (born December 31, 1958) is an American radio personality and comedian who is currently the co-host of '' Bennington'' and host of '' Unmasked''. Additionally, he has been a co-host of a number of radio shows, including '' T ...
from 1998 to 2015.
Whatley originally became well known after becoming a
producer and contributor for the popular syndicated radio program ''
The Ron and Ron Show''. The show disbanded after being cancelled for low ratings following the departure of
Ron Diaz. Whatley then teamed up with
Ron Bennington
Ronald Lee Bennington (born December 31, 1958) is an American radio personality and comedian who is currently the co-host of '' Bennington'' and host of '' Unmasked''. Additionally, he has been a co-host of a number of radio shows, including '' T ...
to create ''The Ron and Fez Show'' on a small
Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, or simply Daytona, is a coastal resort-city in east-central Florida. Located on the eastern edge of Volusia County near the Atlantic coastline, its population was 72,647 at the 2020 census. Daytona Beach is approximately nort ...
radio station (WKRO). The duo subsequently created a show titled ''Ron and Fez Dot Com'' as they moved to overnights on
WNEW in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
.
Radio career
''The Ron and Ron Show''
In 1990, Whatley was an on-air personality at
WYNF
WYNF (1340 AM) is a radio station licensed to Augusta, Georgia, United States. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, and serves as Augusta's affiliate for the Black Information Network. Its studios are located at the Augusta Corporate Center ne ...
in
Tampa Bay, Florida
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and shallow estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west-central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay. The largest freshwater in ...
and producer and contributor for the syndicated morning program, ''The Ron and Ron Show''. During this time, he developed the Fez Whatley moniker which a reporter in ''
The Orlando Sentinel
The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is the primary newspaper of Orlando, Florida, and the Central Florida region. It was founded in 1876 and is currently owned by Tribune Publishing Company.
The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is owned by parent company, ''Tribune Pu ...
'' described as "an effeminate, lisping character." After the show disbanded due to being cancelled for low ratings after the departure of Ron Diaz, Whatley then teamed up with
Ron Bennington
Ronald Lee Bennington (born December 31, 1958) is an American radio personality and comedian who is currently the co-host of '' Bennington'' and host of '' Unmasked''. Additionally, he has been a co-host of a number of radio shows, including '' T ...
as a co-host to create ''The Ron and Fez Show'' on WKRO FM, a small
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, or simply Daytona, is a coastal Resort town, resort-city in east-central Florida. Located on the eastern edge of Volusia County, Florida, Volusia County near the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic coastline, its population ...
rock station. After a relatively short stint there, they then retitled the show: ''Ron and Fez Dot Com'' and premiered on overnights on
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
radio station WNEW FM on April 17, 2000.
''The Ron and Fez Show''
![Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Ron_Bennington_and_Fez_Whatley.jpg)
Whatley and Bennington continued on WNEW until the end of 2002, as well as being simulcast to a few other FM markets, including
WJFK-FM
WJFK-FM (106.7 MHz "106.7 The Fan") is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Manassas, Virginia, and serving the Washington metropolitan area. WJFK-FM airs a sports radio format and is owned and operated by Audacy, Inc.
WJFK-FM's studios ...
in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
After being canceled in New York City, as well as the other markets, they continued to broadcast from WJFK FM, and relocated to DC.
On July 19, 2004, Whatley and Bennington unceremoniously returned to the Florida airwaves in the 1 PM to 3 PM slot on
Tampa Bay, Florida
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and shallow estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west-central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay. The largest freshwater in ...
's ''The Buzz'' WBAA-AM 1010, a relatively low wattage station which adopted a new talk format, and abandoned its former sports talk format. The duo didn't produce well in the ratings however, and their tenure was short lived.
''The Ron and Fez Show'' moved to
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio (XM) was one of the three satellite radio (SDARS) and online radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Holdings. It provided pay-for-service radio, analogous to subscription cable television. Its s ...
on September 12, 2005, after leaving WJFK 106.7 FM in
Washington D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...
On December 20, 2006 ''The Ron and Fez Show'' premiered on 92.3 Free FM in New York City from 6 to 9 PM, while still holding on to their XM Satellite Radio show from Noon to 3 PM. ''The Ron and Fez Show'' was discontinued when WFNY reverted to a rock format as WXRK on May 24, 2007.
From October 9, 2007, to June 27, 2008, Whatley also served as executive producer.
On November 4, 2008, Bennington and Whatley hosted ''Presidential Thunderdome '08'', a live radio show covering the
2008 presidential elections
This electoral calendar 2008 lists the national/federal direct elections held in 2008 in the de jure and de facto list of sovereign states, sovereign states and their list of dependent territories, dependent territories. Referendums are included ...
.
On February 26, 2010, Whatley put up a $1,000 cash reward for the apprehension, conviction, and incarceration of the vandals who defaced the Mount Airy, North Carolina statue depicting Sheriff
Andy Taylor and
Opie Taylor
Opie Taylor is a fictional character played by Ron Howard in the American television program '' The Andy Griffith Show'', which was televised on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968. Opie Taylor appeared in 209 of the 249 episodes of '' ...
of the 1960s television show ''
The Andy Griffith Show
''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color.
The ...
''. Whatley worked with the Mount Airy Crime Stoppers Division as they monitored the case.
On April 1, 2015, Whatley announced his retirement from radio. His final appearance on ''The Ron and Fez Show'' took place two days later.
Other radio ventures
Whatley also briefly co-hosted another of The Ron & Ron Radio Network's programs, the ''Hooters-on-the-Radio'' show with Brenda Lee (aka B.L.), Julie Williams and Hooters spokesperson and original Hooters girl (and
Playboy
''Playboy'' is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother.
K ...
's Miss July 1986)
Lynne Austin
Lynne Austin (born April 15, 1961, in Plant City, Florida) is an American model and actress. She was chosen as '' Playboy's'' Playmate of the Month in July, 1986 and has appeared in numerous ''Playboy'' videos. Austin was also selected as the 198 ...
in addition to his duties on ''The Ron & Ron Show''.
Personal life
Whatley graduated from
Pinellas Park High School
Pinellas Park High School is a public secondary school in Largo, Florida, United States. It opened in the fall of 1976 and is part of the Pinellas County Schools system. The school mascot is the Patriot, and the school colors are red, white and ...
in
Pinellas Park, Florida
Pinellas Park is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 53,093 at the 2020 census. Originally home to northern transplants and vacationers, the hundred year old city has grown into the fourth largest ...
in 1982, and received a publication award from the
International Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honor society for high school and middle school theatre students. It is a division of the Educational Theatre Association. Thespian troupes serve students in grades 9–12; Junior Thespian troupes s ...
.
On February 24, 2012, Whatley
came out
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of ...
as gay. Fez had been playing a flamboyant character on the air for more than 20 years, but became increasingly uncomfortable in the role after recognizing his sexual orientation and being unable to publicly embrace it. After admitting his sexuality to his co-host Ron Bennington three years earlier, Whatley spoke openly on the air about his issues as a closeted man, but had remained unable to say it explicitly. He chose to come out on the one-year anniversary of his father's death.
In 2012, Whatley participated in the New York
LGBT Pride March.
Health issues and death
Whatley suffered a mild heart attack on November 9, 2005, which he did not recognize. After broadcasting his show the next day, he consulted a doctor who informed him that he had had heart attack, and was additionally diagnosed with
diabetes
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...
. An
angioplasty
Angioplasty, is also known as balloon angioplasty and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, typically to treat arterial atheroscle ...
was performed and Whatley returned to the show on November 28, 2005.
Following an interview on May 9, 2007, with author
Elmore Leonard
Elmore John Leonard Jr. (October 11, 1925August 20, 2013) was an American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. His earliest novels, published in the 1950s, were Westerns, but he went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thri ...
, Whatley left the studio during the show to check into an emergency room, and had a second stent inserted May 11, 2007.
On September 24, 2010, Whatley was diagnosed with a third heart attack while in the hospital for treatment for an unrelated medical issue. He was released from the hospital after three days.
In July 2014, Whatley underwent
anterior cervical discectomy surgery to relieve neck and back pain. A year later, Bennington announced on ''
The Anthony Cumia Show
''The Anthony Cumia Show'' (TACS) is an American audio and video podcast hosted by radio personality and former ''Opie and Anthony'' co-host Anthony Cumia, which airs on Cumia's subscription-based online streaming platform, Compound Media. It ai ...
'' that Whatley had suffered his fifth heart attack, and had a total of thirteen stents inserted. In March 2021, Bennington posted on his Instagram account that Whatley had suffered "another massive heart attack" and had
flatlined before being revived.
In August 2021, Whatley suffered a heart attack while undergoing surgery, and was placed on a
ventilator
A ventilator is a piece of medical technology that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently. Ventilators ...
.
On August 14, he died of heart failure at age 57.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whatley, Fez
21st-century American comedians
American talk radio hosts
American LGBT entertainers
LGBT people from Florida
1964 births
Place of death missing
2021 deaths
Reformed Church in America members
LGBT broadcasters from the United States
Gay entertainers
People from Pinellas Park, Florida