Al Franken at a glance

Biography

Born: May 21, 1951, in New York City; raised in St. Louis Park, Minn.

High school: The Blake School; graduated in 1969

College: Harvard University, graduated in 1973

Family: Married Franni Bryson in 1975. The two met at a mixer at Simmons College, where Franni went to school.

Career: ''Saturday Night Live'' writer and actor from 1975 to 1980 and 1985 to 1995. Radio host from 2004 to 2007.

Sworn in to first term in the U.S. Senate on July 7, 2009

3 things you didn't know

Favorite family tradition? Rubbing my kids' feet before they go to bed

Favorite dessert? Franni's apple pie

How do you unwind? Bike around Minneapolis

Books

Author of six books, four bestsellers:

• ''I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me! Daily Affirmations by Stuart Smalley''

• ''Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations''

• ''Why Not Me?'' a parody-journal of the fictional Franken campaign for president

• ''Oh, the Things I Know! A Guide to Success, or Failing That, Happiness''

• ''Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right''

• ''The Truth (With Jokes)''

Film screenplays

''When a Man Loves a Woman''

''Stuart Saves His Family''

Winning margin in 2008

312 votes