Jim Dykes
An actor, guide and writer by profession, Jim has led tours of New York since 1984. Although well-versed in the history and architecture of New York, Jim sprinkles his tours with insider stories about the rich and famous, where they live, shop, dine and party! Along with friend and fellow guide Mike Brennan they started "Rich and Famous Tours.com" to show people New York through the eyes of the famous. "I discovered one day on my tours by accident that when I tell stories and scandals of the rich & famous, everyone is suddenly interested!"
Jim is also a member of Screen Actor's Guild Awards (SAG). He has acted in front of the camera as well as worked behind the scenes in film and TV. Many know Jim as the "funny husband & dad" in any number of TV commercials such as ODOR EATERS ("Oh that foot odor!"), Home & Garden, Sprint, Coca-cola and many more. Among his many jobs in New York, Jim once worked at legendary nightclub STUDIO 54, worked as an editor/publisher on the Citizen-News, an award-winning NYC neighborhood newspaper and was a Santa Claus at Macy's 34th St. He recalls Donna Murphy, a Tony-winning Broadway star as a former Macy's "elf" and David Sedaris (the SantaLand Diaries).He has worked with many celebrities and is the ONLY New York tourguide to have been mentioned occasionally in New York's gossip columns.
Jim has written numerous features and celebrity interviews for various NYC neighborhood papers. Jim has done many tours for corporate clients such as: The American Girl, Rolls-Royce, TNT, Mary Kay Cosmetics, BMW, Phizer, Chrysler, Ford, Disney, Time-Warner & dozens more.
MORE: Long known as a "celebrity expert" Jim has worked as backstage "go-fer" on events such as the Grammys, the Emmys and Night of 100 Stars where he met everyone from legends Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, Jimmy Stewart, Lana Turner and Laurence Olivier to a host of contemporary stars. As Jim says: "the stories I've accumulated from meeting these legends are GREAT for my tours as well as being great dinner party stories!" When it comes to celebrities, Jim knows of what he speaks- He is personally acquainted with many well-known folks in the limelight including personal friends Alison Arngrim (Little House on the Prairie's Nellie Oleson), neighbor and society pianist Peter Mintun, "Eloise" artist Hilary Knight, former neighbor Ashley Judd, The Naked Cowboy and others...Jim has been a guest on Joan Rivers'show, chatting about New York history and celebrity gossip. Joan began introducing Jim as "the celebrity tourguide...just fabulous!" Last summer Jim attended childhood friend Victoria Leacock's wedding to Cal Hoffman(Dustin's nephew)--Bridesmaids included Monica Lewinsky, Molly Ringwald and fabulous drag queen Kiki of Broadway's Kiki and Herb (Justin Bond), another of Victoria's childhood pals. For pictures from the wedding, check out Jim's myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/richandfamoustours
WOR Radio's Joan Hamburg routinely recommends Jim Dykes as a personal tour guide on her morning talkshow in New York as well as Jim's commercial tour: Rich & Famous Tours ( www.richandfamoustours.com ) CELEB STORY: Jim recently gave a private tour of NYC to Ashley & Wynonna Judd's grandma, Polly, as well as other family members.
Jim
is President of: www.RichandFamousTours.com :
a company that provides tour services for tourists to New York City.
Phone:
212- 928-1640 Jim@JimDykes.com
Licensed by the Dept of Consumer Affairs and certified by NYC & Co. and the Mayor Office of Tourism as a New York City Guide.
# 0797316; Former board member of GANYC (the Guides Association of New York City), member AFTRA and Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) and assorted New York City museums and institutions.