Biography for
John McCain (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

29 August 1936, Canal Zone, Panama

Birth Name

John Sidney McCain III

Nickname

The Sheriff
The Maverick
White Tornado
The Mac

Height

5' 9¼" (1.76 m)

Spouse

Cindy Hensley McCain	(17 May 1980 - present) 4 children
Carol Shepp	(3 July 1965 - February 1980) (divorced) 3 children

Trivia

Has been Senior Senator from Arizona since 3 January 1987.

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona from 1983 to 1987.

Was the first sitting senator to host "Saturday Night Live" (1975).

The first time his appearance on "Saturday Night Live" (1975) aired, it was pre-empted in the Washington D.C./Baltimore metro area due to a sniper shooting.

Graduated, in 1958, fifth from the bottom of his class at the United States Naval Academy.

One of his favorite movies is Paths of Glory (1957). His favorite movie, as stated in his memoir Worth the Fighting For, is Viva Zapata! (1952). He also ranks Star Wars (1977) among his favorites.

As a U.S. Navy pilot, he was captured on 26 October 1967, after his plane was shot down while on a bombing run over Hanoi. He parachuted into a lake, breaking both arms and a leg. He was then imprisoned at the notorious North Vietnamese hell-hole, known as the Hanoi Hilton. He has described his five and a half year imprisonment as a nightmarish time, in which he was beaten and kept in solitary confinement. Twice he tried to hang himself, only to be cut down and assaulted by the guards.

At the time he was shot down, his father Admiral John S. McCain was Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet.

Good friends with Massachusetts senator John Kerry.

Longtime friend of Comedy Central show "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (1996) and of Jon Stewart.

His Senate seat was previously held by Barry Goldwater.

He is a second cousin seven times removed of President George Washington and a ninth cousin of Quincy Jones, both through the Washington line.

His candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2008 presidential election has been endorsed by several celebrities including President George W. Bush, Henry Kissinger Sylvester Stallone and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

U.S. Senators William Cohen and Gary Hart were the best men at his second wedding (17 May 1980).

Retired from the Navy as a Captain (1981).

After adopting his first wife Carol's children Doug and Andy, she gave birth to their daughter Sidney in September 1966.

Born to Admiral John S. "Jack" McCain Sr. (1911-1981) and his wife Roberta Wright (born in 1912), he grew up with his older sister Sandy and his younger brother Joe.

Was an excellent wrestler in high school.

Once joked about Chelsea Clinton at a Republican fundraiser, saying "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.", but later apologized (1998).

Is of Scotish-Irish descent.

Quit his two pack a day cigarette habit in 1979.

Children with second wife, Cindy Hensley McCain, Meghan McCain (b. October 23, 1984), John Sidney IV ("Jack") (b. May 2, 1986), James Hensley ("Jimmy") (b. May 21, 1988) and Bridget Leela. (b. July 21, 1991).

He has been treated for cancer four times.

Made the surprise choice of the little-known Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, the first time a female candidate had been on the Republican ticket. The announcement fell on McCain's 72nd birthday and Palin's 20th wedding anniversary (August 29, 2008).

Has his look-alike puppet in the French show "Les guignols de l'info" (1988).

Presidential campaign slogan: "Country first".

Favorite book is For Whom the Bell Tolls. The title of his second memoir, Worth the Fighting For, is a phrase lifted from the novel. He credits the book with influencing much of his philosophy and calls its protagonist Robert Jordan his lifelong ideal of a hero.

Friend of Warren Beatty despite their political differences.

Naval honors included Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Ranking member, U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

Member, U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Where Are They Now

(1999) Release of his book, "Faith of My Fathers" by John with Mark Salter.

(2005) Release of his book, "Character is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember" by John with Mark Salter.

(2007) Release of his book, "Hard Call: Great Decisions and the Extraordinary People Who Made Them" by John with Mark Salter.