Early Life and Education of Stephen King: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Stephen King. From birth to education, explore key events.

Stephen King is a prolific American author, best known for his horror novels, earning him the title "King of Horror." While primarily recognized for his contributions to the horror genre, King has also successfully ventured into suspense, crime, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. Beyond his novels, he is also the author of approximately 200 short stories, which have been compiled into various collections, showcasing his versatility and wide-ranging storytelling abilities.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

July 23, 1939: Marriage of Stephen King's Parents

On July 23, 1939, Donald Edwin King and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury, Stephen King's parents, were married in Scarborough, Maine.

September 21, 1947: Stephen King's Birth

On September 21, 1947, Stephen Edwin King was born. He later became a celebrated American author known for horror novels.

1962: Enrollment at Lisbon High School

In 1962, Stephen King entered Lisbon High School in Lisbon Falls, Maine.

1966: Enrollment at the University of Maine

In 1966, Stephen King entered the University of Maine at Orono on a scholarship.

1968: Participation in Writing Workshop

In 1968, Stephen King participated in a writing workshop organized by Burton Hatlen, where he met Tabitha Spruce.

June 1, 1970: Naomi King Born

On June 1, 1970, Stephen King's daughter, Naomi, was born.

1970: Graduation and Birth of Daughter Naomi Rachel

In 1970, Stephen King graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English, and his daughter Naomi Rachel was born.

January 2, 1971: King Marries Tabitha Spruce

On January 2, 1971, Stephen King married Tabitha Spruce, who is also a novelist and philanthropist, after meeting her at the University of Maine.

1971: Marriage to Tabitha Spruce

In 1971, Stephen King married Tabitha Spruce.

1971: Hired as an English Teacher at Hampden Academy

In 1971, Stephen King was hired as an English teacher at Hampden Academy in Hampden, Maine.

June 4, 1972: Joseph Hillström King (Joe Hill) Born

On June 4, 1972, Stephen King's son, Joseph Hillström King, who writes as Joe Hill, was born.

1974: Astronomy song released

In 1974, Blue Oyster Cult released the song Astronomy.

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1975: Return to Auburn and Completion of The Stand

In 1975, Stephen King's family returned to Auburn, Maine, where he completed The Stand.

The Stand

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February 21, 1977: Owen King Born

On February 21, 1977, Stephen King's son, Owen King, was born.

1977: Travels to England and Teaching Creative Writing

In 1977, Stephen King, with his family, traveled briefly to England. Upon returning to Maine that fall, he began teaching creative writing at the University of Maine.

1983: Zone Corporation Established

In 1983, Stephen King and his wife established the Zone Corporation to acquire WACZ radio station in Bangor, which was subsequently renamed WZON.

1983: New Classic Reads start

The New Classic Reads started in 1983

1988: Narrative Intro for Blue Öyster Cult Song

In 1988, Stephen King provided a narrative introduction for Blue Öyster Cult's updated version of their 1974 song "Astronomy," which was released as a single for radio play.

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1990: King Writes About Little League Team

In 1990, Stephen King published an essay in The New Yorker about his son Owen's Little League baseball team.

1994: Midlife Confidential Published

In 1994, Stephen King and his band-mates from The Rock Bottom Remainders coauthored "Midlife Confidential: The Rock Bottom Remainders Tour America With Three Chords and an Attitude".

1995: Celebrity Jeopardy! Contestant

In 1995, Stephen King appeared as a contestant on "Celebrity Jeopardy!"

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1995: Additional Radio Stations Added

In 1995, Stephen King's Zone Corporation added two more radio stations, WKIT-FM and WNSW in Brewer. However, WNSW was quickly shut down.

1998: Celebrity Jeopardy! Contestant

In 1998, Stephen King appeared as a contestant on "Celebrity Jeopardy!"

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1998: Stranger Than Fiction Album Released

In 1998, The Rock Bottom Remainders, a charity supergroup featuring Stephen King, released an album, "Stranger Than Fiction", under Don't Quit Your Day Job Records.

June 19, 1999: King Struck by Minivan

On June 19, 1999, at around 4:30 pm, Stephen King was struck by a minivan while walking on the shoulder of Maine State Route 5 in Lovell, Maine. The driver, distracted by a dog in the back, hit King, who was thrown approximately 14 feet from the road.

1999: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon Released

In 1999, Stephen King's novella, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, which features a baseball game, was released.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon: A Novel

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2001: WDME-FM Acquired

In 2001, Stephen King's Zone Corporation acquired a third radio station, WDME-FM in Dover-Foxcroft, which was later renamed WZLO.

2002: Wavedancer Benefit Organized

In 2002, Stephen King, along with Peter Straub, John Grisham, and Pat Conroy, organized the Wavedancer Benefit, a public reading to raise funds for actor and audiobook reader Frank Muller, who had been injured in a motorcycle accident. Their reading was later released as an audiobook.

2004: King Co-Authors 'Faithful'

In 2004, Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan co-authored "Faithful", a book chronicling their correspondence about the Boston Red Sox's historic 2004 season and World Series win.

Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season

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2005: Sons Publish First Story Collections

In 2005, both of Stephen King's sons published their first collections of stories: Owen King published "We're All in This Together: A Novella and Stories", and Joseph Hillström King (Joe Hill) published "20th Century Ghosts".

We're All In This Together: A Novella and Stories

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2008: On Writing Ranked Among New Classics

In 2008, Stephen King's "On Writing" was ranked 21st on Entertainment Weekly's list of "The New Classics: The 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008".

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

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2008: King Endorses Barack Obama

In 2008, during the presidential election, Stephen King publicly endorsed Barack Obama for president.

2010: Blockade Billy Released

In 2010, Stephen King released the novella "Blockade Billy", which features a baseball game.

Blockade Billy

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March 8, 2011: King Speaks at Political Rally

On March 8, 2011, Stephen King spoke at a political rally in Sarasota, Florida, opposing Governor Rick Scott and the Tea Party movement.

November 2011: STK Foundation Donates to Heating Bills

In November 2011, the STK Foundation donated $70,000 in matched funding through Stephen King's radio station to help families in need in Bangor, Maine, pay their heating bills during the winter.

April 30, 2012: King Calls for Higher Taxes

On April 30, 2012, Stephen King published an article in The Daily Beast advocating for wealthier Americans, including himself, to pay more taxes, framing it as a moral and practical imperative.

2012: King Narrates Shooter Jennings' Album

In 2012, Stephen King provided the narration for Shooter Jennings's album "Black Ribbons."

January 25, 2013: King Publishes Essay on Gun Control

On January 25, 2013, Stephen King released an essay titled "Guns" via Amazon.com's Kindle Single feature, addressing the gun control debate following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and advocating for a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

2013: Hard Listening E-book Released

In 2013, Stephen King and his band-mates from The Rock Bottom Remainders co-authored the e-book "Hard Listening: The Greatest Rock Band Ever (of Authors) Tells All".

2014: King Endorses Shenna Bellows

In 2014, Stephen King endorsed Shenna Bellows in the U.S. Senate election for the seat held by Susan Collins.

June 30, 2015: King Calls LePage an Embarrassment

On June 30, 2015, Stephen King tweeted that Governor Paul LePage was a "terrible embarrassment" to Maine and suggested he should either govern effectively or resign.

2015: King Criticizes Governor LePage

In 2015, Stephen King criticized Maine Governor Paul LePage for falsely implying that King avoided paying Maine income taxes. King demanded an apology, which LePage refused to provide.

August 27, 2016: King Labels LePage a Bigot, Homophobe, and Racist

On August 27, 2016, Stephen King publicly labeled Maine Governor Paul LePage as a bigot, a homophobe, and a racist.

2016: King Condemns Donald Trump's Candidacy

In 2016, Stephen King joined numerous writers in signing a letter condemning Donald Trump's presidential candidacy, citing concerns about the abuse of language and the encouragement of aggression.

June 2018: King Calls for Oleg Sentsov's Release

In June 2018, Stephen King publicly called for the release of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who had been imprisoned in Russia.

2018: King Declines to Run for Governor

In 2018, following increased attention from his criticism of Governor LePage, efforts were made to encourage Stephen King to run for Governor of Maine, but King stated he would not run or serve in the position.

2019: King Plans Writers' Retreat

As of 2019, Stephen and Tabitha King were planning to convert their home in Bangor, Maine, into a facility housing his archives and a writers' retreat.

2020: King Endorses Elizabeth Warren and Later Joe Biden

In 2020, during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, Stephen King initially endorsed Elizabeth Warren's campaign. After Warren suspended her campaign, King then endorsed Joe Biden in the general election.

February 2021: King's Foundation Supports Student Novel Publication

In February 2021, Stephen King's Foundation donated $6,500 to assist children from Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston, Maine, in publishing two novels they had been working on prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2022: King Pranked by Russian Impersonators

In July 2022, Stephen King participated in a video call with Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, who were impersonating Volodymyr Zelenskyy. King later realized he had been pranked and apologized on Twitter.

August 2022: King Testifies Against Publishing Merger

In August 2022, Stephen King testified in a case brought by the U.S. Justice Department to block the merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. His testimony was credited with helping to convince the judge to block the merger.

2022: King's Favorite Books List

In 2022, Stephen King provided another list of ten favorite books; Lord of the Flies, Nineteen Eighty-Four and Blood Meridian remained from the previous list, and he added Ship of Fools, The Orphan Master's Son, Invisible Man, Watership Down, The Hair of Harold Roux, American Pastoral and The Lord of the Rings.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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2022: King Supports Ukraine

In 2022, amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Stephen King voiced his support for Ukraine, posting a photo on his Twitter account wearing an "I stand with Ukraine" T-shirt and declaring he would not cooperate with Russian publishers.

December 2024: Radio Stations to Shut Down

In December 2024, Stephen King announced that his radio stations, owned by the Zone Corporation, would shut down at the end of the year due to his age and financial losses.