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Ty Pennington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ty Pennington | |
 Ty Pennington in North Pole, Alaska, 2006 |
|
| Birth name | Tygert Burton Pennington |
| Born | October 19, 1965 (age 41) Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Official site | TyPenningtonStyle.com |
Tygert Burton "Ty" Pennington (born October 19, 1965 and raised in Marietta, Georgia) is a carpenter, TV personality, and former male fashion model.
He is most famous for being the host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which currently airs on ABC. Previously, Pennington was a carpenter on the TLC reality show Trading Spaces.
Pennington was considered an unruly child and had difficulty performing throughout school. It wasn't until he was seventeen years old that he was tested for and diagnosed with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He is now a spokesperson for the organization ADHD Experts on Call, and manages his condition with Adderall XR[1]. Additionally, his mother, Dr. Yvonne V. Pennington, is a psychologist who focuses on the treatment of ADHD and depression.
A self-described "Jack of all trades,"[2] Pennington learned woodworking early in life. He received his undergraduate degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Atlanta while working his way through school as a carpenter, and continued to work in carpentry after graduation while taking classes in painting and sculpture at the Atlanta College of Art. During his final semester, Pennington was approached by a modeling scout, and soon began a lucrative career. He traveled the world and landed print jobs for J.Crew, Swatch and Sprite, and appeared in television spots for Diet Coke, Levi's, and Macy's, among others. According to the TV Guide Channel, Pennington is the highest paid endorser in America.
Pennington parlayed his hands-on skills and design acumen into a career in the entertainment industry, becoming a set designer, including for the critically acclaimed film Leaving Las Vegas in 1995. However, his professional breakthrough came through The Learning Channel’s innovative hit show Trading Spaces. He quickly became known for his off-the-wall sense of humor and creative style during four years as the show's playful designer and carpenter.
When ABC began developing a show that would transform the homes of deserving families in seven days or less, Pennington was chosen as the leader of the eight person design team. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition went on to be a huge hit, and catapulted Pennington into the mainstream. This led to an endorsement deal with Sears, a sponsor of the show.
Prior to his partnership with Sears, Pennington was the owner and designer of his own online furniture company, Furniture Unlimited, which is based in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Today, however, he lends his design skills to Sears, personally guiding the design of every item in the Ty Pennington Style line of bedding, tabletop items, and bath accessories. In addition to his involvement in design, marketing promotions and public relations activities for Sears, Pennington is also active in community outreach through the Sears American Dream Campaign.
Pennington is also an author, who (in 2003) published the book Ty's Tricks: Home Repair Secrets Plus Cheap and Easy Projects to Transform Any Room, a do-it-yourself guide on home improvement.
- In 2002, People named Pennington one of its top 50 bachelors.
- In the 2003 book Trading Spaces Behind the Scenes: Including Decorating Tips and Tricks, Pennington is the only member of the Trading Spaces cast not to have a date of birth listed. This information was also omitted from the TLC website while he was on the show.
- In January of 2005, Pennington fell ill and underwent an emergency appendectomy, taping an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition while in the hospital.
- Modeled in Sassy Magazine.
- In 2006, Country Music Television or CMT, named Pennington one of its 20 Sexiest Southern Men on the "20 Sexiest Southern Men" countdown.
- In 2006, an animated parody of Pennington appeared in the Drawn Together episode "Alzheimer's That Ends Well".
- He presented the Favorite T.V. Show award with Ice Cube in the 2007 Kid's Choice Awards.