Oh Behave!

David Frei

New York Magazine once called David Frei "probably the most famous human in the world of canines.” Millions of television viewers know him as the longtime “Voice of the Westminster Kennel Club” and co-host of USA Network’s annual telecast for the past 27 years (since 1990), and as co-host on NBC of “The National Dog Show Presented By Purina” on Thanksgiving Day since its inception in 2002.

He has made many appearances on “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “The View,” “Fox & Friends,” “Martha Stewart” and more. David’s dog show adventures have taken him to the White House, to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange and for a ride on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

He now works as a consultant for NBC Sports, continuing his on-air roles for both “The National Dog Show” and soon for “The Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented By Purina,” which debuts on Easter night 2017. A breeder-owner-handler and judge in the world of purebred dogs for more than 40 years, he has enjoyed competitive success with his Afghan Hounds, Brittanys and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and has judged at dog shows all over the world.

David is most proud of the work that his dogs have been doing as therapy dogs at places like the Ronald McDonald House New York, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the VA Medical Center in New York. His second book, Angel On A Leash, about his world of therapy dogs and life in dogs, was the 2012 winner of the Dog Writers Association of America’s Award as best depiction of the human-animal bond.

With Westminster, David created a charity, Angel On A Leash (his book was named after the charity), in 2004, supporting a therapy dog program at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.  Angel On A Leash later became an independent charity with David as founder and president and expanded across the country.

David’s contributions to the world of dogs have been recognized with awards from Purina (2015 Better With Pets Award), the Dog Writers Association of America, the World Dog Press Association, and the Association of Purebred Dog Writers. Petside.com named him as the Pet Person of the Year in 2011, and in 2015, Dog Fancy Magazine, in its final issue, included him in a retrospective, “45 People Who Changed the Dog World.”

David was also the co-author, with Mike Lingenfelter, of The Angel By My Side, in 2002. His third book, about his years at Westminster, is under way.

In 2004, he appeared in one of the final episodes of HBO’s “Sex And The City,” playing a smitten dog show judge awarding a big win to Charlotte and her Cavalier. Previously, he held public relations positions with the Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and ABC-TV Sports in New York.

A native of Oregon, he owned two popular sports bars in the Seattle area, as well as his own public relations agency, before moving to New York City in 2002. David and his wife, Cherilyn, with Angel (a Cavalier) and Grace (a Brittany), relocated back to the West Coast in 2016, where Cherilyn, a certified Catholic chaplain, now serves as Director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care at Providence Hospital in Seaside, Oregon.

John O'Hurley

Award-winning actor John O’Hurley has catapulted into television’s busiest and most versatile actor/show host, advertising hero and feature film star. O’Hurley is best known as “J. Peterman” on “Seinfeld” which is now the #1 syndicated show in the world and can be seen in 85 countries. John won a Screen Actors Guild Award for “Best Ensemble” for his work on “Seinfeld.” It was O’Hurley’s unique portrayal of the wry and witty “J. Peterman” that led to dozens of advertising campaigns for companies such as Xerox and The Travel Channel, earning him multiple advertising and marketing industry awards. John reappeared in prime time in 2005, capturing America’s heart with his turn on Season 1 of “Dancing with the Stars,” where he officially won the series with the highly contested “Dance Off.” After a two-year stint hosting “To Tell The Truth” and a three year stint hosting USA’s “Get Golf with the PGA TOUR”, O’Hurley is now the regular host of NBC Sports highest rated yearly show, “The National Dog Show presented by Purina,” a Thanksgiving tradition to 22 million viewers. He has also recently assumed the role as host of the long time popular game show “Family Feud,” now in it’s 30th anniversary year. In addition, life imitates art for John as John is now the business partner and part owner of the J. Peterman Company, along with the real J. Peterman!

John’s career in television includes ABC’s “Over the Top,” opposite Annie Potts and Tim Curry; ABC’s “A Whole New Ballgame”, NBC’s “The Weber Show,” and CBS’ “Scorch.” Most recently John has starred in UPN’s “The Mullets,” and NBC’s “Father of the Pride.” O’Hurley has also guest starred on more than 50 television shows including “Frasier,” “The X Files,” and “Melrose Place.” He has also appeared in several television movies including “Life of the Party” opposite Ann Margaret, and “The Murder of Thelma Todd” with Loni Anderson.

In film, John most recently appeared in Jessica Simpson’s “Employee of the Month.” He has starred in “Race to Space” opposite Val Kilmer . Currently, he is producing “The Richard Petty Story,” alongside Dan Halsted (“Any Given Sunday”), about the legendary race car driver. Dennis Quaid is attached to the project. John is also working on the film version of the New York Times’ bestseller “Ahab’s Wife.”

John lends his voice to several of America’s most popular cartoons. He is currently playing King Neptune in “SpongeBob SquarePants,” Captain Star Johnson in “Duck Dodgers,” King Wallace II in “Kim Possible” and soon will be appearing as Santa Claus in “Holidaze”. John has worked on “What’s New Scooby Doo?,” “Lloyd in Space,” and “Family Guy.”

O’Hurley was born in Kittery, Maine but his career began in West Hartford, CT. At a very young age, he remembers dressing in a swimsuit, homemade oxygen tank and goggles to watch episodes of the “Sea Hunt” television series imitating his childhood idol Lloyd Bridges. “From that point on, acting was in my blood”, says John. Years later, John received his theater degree from Providence College in Providence, RI. John was the only graduating senior in the Theater Department that year, he jokingly recalls, thereby winning the theater award.

John’s television career initially began as a 12-year veteran of daytime television. His daytime shows include “The Young and the Restless,” “All my Children,” “Loving,” “Santa Barbara,” and “The Edge of Night.”

Outside of television and feature films, O’Hurley is also an accomplished stage actor. He most recently appeared in the Broadway and US Tour versions of “Chicago” playing Billy Flynn. He’s also starred in the national tours of “Pirates of Penzance,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “Brigadoon” and “Same Time Next Year” opposite Loretta Swit.

John is also quite fluent in the world of business. Aside from being part owner of the J. Peterman Company, he is also the principal partner in two venture capital companies, Round One Investments, in Beverly Hills, and Heritage Capital Investments in Atlanta, GA.

When not performing, John maintains a single digit handicap in golf, playing on the Celebrity Players Tour, as well as in other key events like the BMW Charity Pro-Am and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Additionally, he lends his name and time to help charities close to his heart, namely, Golfers Against Cancer. O’Hurley enjoys spending free time with his wife of over 2 years, Lisa (also a single digit handicap) traveling, playing with their dogs (Betty and Scoshi), cheering for the Boston Red Sox and awaiting the birth of their first child, due in December 2006.