William Cummings

USA TODAY

After 21 years of hosting The O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly has been dropped by Fox News. Here's a look at the important steps in his long career.

1949: The future creator of the "No Spin Zone" is born in New York City.

1971: O'Reilly graduates from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., with a degree in history.

1973: He earns a Master of the Arts degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University.

1973 to 1980: After graduating, O'Reilly works at a number of local TV news stations including WNEP in Scranton, Pa.; WFAA in Dallas; KMGH in Denver; KATU in Portland, Ore.; WFSB in Hartford, Conn.; and WNEV in Boston. In Dallas, he won a Dallas Press Club Award and he received an Emmy award for his coverage of a skyjacking while working in Denver.

1980: He becomes an anchor and correspondent for WCBS-TV in New York, where he earned a second Emmy.

1982: He is named a correspondent for CBS News.

1986: O'Reilly joins ABC News as a reporter.

1989: O'Reilly becomes the anchor for the tabloid news program Inside Edtion.

1995: He leaves Inside Edition to attend the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he earned a master's degree in public administration.

1996: O'Reilly joins Fox News as host of The O'Reilly Report. The name was changed to The O'Reilly Factor in 1998.

1996: O'Reilly marries public relations executive Maureen McPhilmy.

1998: O'Reilly publishes his first book, a crime fiction novel called Those Who Trespass. More titles would follow, including The No Spin Zone, Who's Looking Our For You, Culture Warrior, A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity: A Memoir, The O'Reilly Factor for Kids and Pinheads and Patriots.

2004:Andrea Mackris, 33, a former producer for The O'Reilly Factor, sues O'Reilly for sexual harassment. He agreed to pay her $9 million, according to The New York Times.

2010: O'Reilly and his wife separate.

2011: O'Reilly's divorce from Maureen is finalized. O'Reilly's book Killing Lincoln is published. It would be the first in a series of best-selling "killing" books including, Killing Kennedy, Killing Patton, Killing Reagan, Killing Jesus, and Killing the Rising Sun.

2016: O'Reilly faces three sexual harassment lawsuits fromdifferent accusers, according to The Times.