Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Henry Joseph Nasiff Jr. |
| Stage Name | Hank The Angry Drunken Dwarf |
| Birth | April 20, 1962 — Fall River, Massachusetts, USA |
| Death | September 4, 2001 — Fall River, Massachusetts, USA (age 39) |
| Height | 4 ft 1 in (1.24 m) |
| Occupation | Entertainer, radio personality |
| Active Years | 1996–2001 |
| Known For | The Howard Stern Show (Wack Pack), rants, rock-trivia prowess |
| Notable Screen Credit | Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV (2000) — played “God” |
| Parents | Henry Joseph Nasiff Sr.; Claudette (Desjardins) Nasiff |
| Siblings | Michael J. Nasiff; Rebecca C. Nasiff; Daniel J. Nasiff |
| Heritage | Lebanese-American (paternal), French-Canadian (maternal) |
| Marital/Children | No spouse or children documented |
| Burial | Interred in Fall River alongside his parents |
| Estimated Finances | Net worth estimated under $100,000 at death |
Early Life in Fall River
Hank’s story begins in Fall River, Massachusetts, a mill town where granite mills and stubborn pride form the skyline. Born April 20, 1962, he was the youngest in a tight-knit Lebanese-French Canadian household. Dwarfism was evident early and shaped everything—how he was treated, how he fought back, and how he learned to turn pain into punchlines.
He attended local schools and, like many kids who don’t fit the mold, left before graduating; a GED followed. The 1980s brought dishwashing shifts, laborer jobs, and long nights. Alcohol crept in as armor and companion. He knew rock history like a scholar, quick with lyrics and liner notes, but it was his volcanic wit that would soon find a stage.
Breakthrough on The Howard Stern Show (1996–2001)
On August 16, 1996, Hank barreled into New York radio like a pint-sized thunderhead. He reportedly showed up at K-Rock, demanded airtime, and—just like that—became a Wack Packer. Over 50 appearances later, he was a fixture: slurred rants, scorched-earth insults, and astonishing recall for rock minutiae. He’d eviscerate a cohost and then, in the next breath, name a B-side, catalog number, and tour year.
In the late 1990s—1998 by most accounts—Stern fans propelled him to the top of an online “Most Beautiful Person” poll, beating Hollywood favorites in a cheeky uprising that mirrored the show’s renegade spirit. He loved to needle his hometown’s large Portuguese community on-air, a recurring bit that became part local satire, part Hank mythology. Decibels, chaos, and charisma: that was the formula.
Film and Side Gigs
Hank’s screen time peaked with Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV (2000), where he played God with a twinkle and a scowl—the cosmic joke practically wrote itself. Off-camera, he earned fees from bar appearances, small events, even the occasional wedding. Nothing was scripted; he worked the room like a street-corner comic with a bullhorn.
The money never matched the fame. Paychecks were gig-based; radio appearances and club bookings kept him afloat, but there were no big contracts or brand deals. By the time of his death, his finances were modest—reportedly under $100,000—with family support filling the gaps. To Hank, status wasn’t a bank account; it was being remembered.
The Nasiff Household: Support and Gravity
Behind the noise sat a steadfast family in Fall River. Hank boomeranged home between New York spurts, returning to a kitchen table that never judged as harshly as the world did.
| Family Member | Relation | Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Joseph Nasiff Sr. | Father | A blue-collar figure who, by most accounts, predeceased Hank. Worried about the drinking, proud of the grit. |
| Claudette (Desjardins) Nasiff | Mother | Maternal anchor with French-Canadian roots; outlived Hank and kept the family’s center of gravity. |
| Michael J. Nasiff | Brother (eldest) | Protective older brother; handled logistics and looked out for Hank on trips. |
| Rebecca C. Nasiff | Sister | Quiet, steady presence; offered emotional steadiness away from the spotlight. |
| Daniel J. Nasiff | Brother (younger) | Outgoing and playful; shared Hank’s mischief and memories. |
There’s no credible record of a spouse or children. The family’s role was simple and profound—show up, help out, and keep what mattered private.
Health Struggles and Death (2001)
The body keeps score. Years of drinking caught up with him by 2001; his voice was raspy, frame thinner, energy uneven. On September 4, 2001, Hank died in Fall River at just 39. Contemporary reports cited a seizure; alcohol-related health issues had mounted. He was laid to rest in a local cemetery beside his parents, a family circle closed in New England stone.
Legacy and Ongoing Remembrance
Hank’s legacy is paradox: a folk hero of shock radio who could be cruel and tender in the span of a sentence. He was an avatar of the 1990s’ anything-goes airwaves—unfiltered, unpolished, unforgettable. Tribute clips resurface each year around his birthday (April 20) and the week of his passing in early September. In 2018, Stern retrospectives revived old stories; by 2025, fans still post grave photos, cut new highlight reels, and recount his rock-trivia takedowns. The signal keeps traveling.
Timeline Highlights
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| April 20, 1962 | Birth | Born in Fall River, MA. Youngest of four in a Lebanese–French Canadian family. |
| 1980s | Work & Struggle | GED; dishwashing and labor gigs; alcoholism entrenches. |
| August 16, 1996 | Radio Debut | Crashes The Howard Stern Show at K-Rock; joins the Wack Pack. |
| 1998 | Online Poll Stunner | Fans push him to the top of a “Most Beautiful Person” online poll. |
| 2000 | Film Role | Appears as “God” in Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV. |
| 2001 (midyear) | Fading Health | On-air energy dips; humor and trivia chops remain sharp. |
| September 4, 2001 | Death | Dies in Fall River at 39; later buried alongside his parents. |
| 2018 | Broad Remembrance | Wack Pack retrospectives revisit his impact and chaos. |
| 2025 | Enduring Tributes | Fan uploads and anniversary posts continue his cult afterlife. |
The Persona: Why Hank Worked
Hank was radio lightning in a bottle: a 4-foot-1 showman who swung verbal haymakers with comic precision. He knew exactly where to land a jab and when to grin. The act was big, but the man behind it was smaller, fragile even. That tension—between brawler and underdog—made him unforgettable.
His rants were a bonfire; his music trivia, a scalpel. One minute he’d roast a celebrity, the next he’d recall an obscure tour date from 1977. He lived on the edge and broadcast from it, transforming his own struggles into combustible entertainment that, for better or worse, defined an era.
Family Footprints in His Story
No handlers. No PR machinery. Just family. The Nasiffs weren’t a sideshow—they were the ballast. Brothers helped with rides and the messy logistics of a life lived loudly. A sister steadied him when the volume dropped. A mother and father framed his world with duty and love. The public Hank was combustible; the private Hank had people who picked up the pieces and set them gently back down.
FAQ
Who was Hank The Angry Drunken Dwarf?
He was Henry Joseph Nasiff Jr., a 4-foot-1 entertainer best known for his explosive, funny, and chaotic appearances on The Howard Stern Show from 1996 to 2001.
How tall was he?
He stood 4 feet 1 inch (1.24 m) tall.
When did he first appear on Stern?
August 16, 1996, after showing up at K-Rock and demanding airtime.
Did he really win a “Most Beautiful” poll?
Yes—fans propelled him to the top of an online “Most Beautiful Person” poll in the late 1990s, a famous prank win.
What movies did he appear in?
Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV (2000), in which he played “God.”
Was he married or did he have children?
No spouse or children are documented.
What was his background and heritage?
He was raised in Fall River, Massachusetts, with Lebanese heritage from his father and French-Canadian roots from his mother.
How did he die?
He died in Fall River on September 4, 2001, at age 39; reports cited a seizure amid alcohol-related health issues.
Where is he buried?
In a Fall River cemetery, alongside his parents.
How much money did he have?
His net worth at death is generally estimated to have been under $100,000.
