Tom Bodett Biography
Tom Bodett is an American author, voice actor, and radio personality who works largely as a host, correspondent, and panelist for a variety of National Public Radio programming (NPR). Since 1986, he has been the spokesman for the motel chain Motel 6, ending commercials with the phrase, “I’m Tom Bodett for Motel 6, and we’ll leave the light on for you.”
How old is Tom Bodett? – Age
He is 68 years old as of 23 February 2023. He was born in 1955 in Champaign, Illinois, United States. His real name is Thomas Edward Bodett.
Tom Bodett Family
Thomas was born and raised in Sturgis, Michigan. As of 2013, he resided in Dummerston, Vermont, where he is a member of the town’s board of selectmen.
Tom Bodett Wife
He has been married twice. He has been married to Rita A. Ramirez since 1997. His marriage to Debi Hochstetler lasted from 1978 to 1992.
Tom Bodett Podcasts
In the Dungeons and Dragons podcast series The Adventure Zone, Bodett’s name was used humorously for a number of non-playable characters. However, these characters were voiced by dungeon master Griffin McElroy, not Bodett. An uncanny resemblance of Bodett can be seen interacting with the main characters of the series in the graphic novel of the same name.
Tom Bodett Jamesway
Bodett also recorded radio commercials and served as the spokesperson for Jamesway department stores in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania from 1993 to 1994. Jamesway, a discount chain, went out of business at the end of 1995 after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Tom Bodett Motel 6
Bodett was working on NPR’s All Things Considered and building houses in Homer, Alaska, in 1986. After hearing him on NPR, a creative director at Richards Group hired him to record a Motel 6 commercial. Bodett has been the chain’s spokesperson ever since he improvised the well-known line “We’ll leave the light on for you.” Bodett was hired by director David Fowler because he “sounded[ed] like the kind of person who stays there.” “Gosh, if only I had an account for a national budget motel brand with a sense of humor and humility, I could make a hell of an advertising campaign with this guy,” Fowler stated.
Motel 6 started using Bodett for their wake-up calls in 2005. By using the voice of their spokesperson, the chain hoped to add a more personal touch to people’s days. Additionally, Bodett was mentioned in the first Motel 6 podcast, which was released during the holidays. A new marketing campaign featuring Bodett’s voice debuted in November 2015, highlighted by radio and television commercials promoting the nationwide investment in and renovation of Motel 6 properties.
Tom Bodett Audiobooks – Books
♦ The Great Divide, Volume Two
♦ Peach Picking Time, Volume Thre
♦ No Place Like Home, Volume Four
♦ As Far As You Can Go Without a Passport
♦ Small Comforts
♦ The End of the Road
♦ The Big Garage on Clear Shot
♦ The Free Fall of Webster Cummings
♦ America’s Historic Trails
♦ Williwaw!
♦ Norman Tuttle on the Last Frontier
♦ Alaska A to Z: The Most Comprehensive Book of Facts and Figures Ever Compiled About Alaska
♦ The Free Fall of Webster Cummings: Volume One of
♦ America’s Historic Trails: With Tom Bodett
♦ Growing Up, Growing Old & Going Fishing at the End of the Road
♦ Those Grand Occasions at the end of the Road
♦ As Far as You Can Go Without a Passport: Views from the End of the Road
♦ First Words