FACTBOX: Studs Terkel, U.S. teller of others' tales

(Reuters) - Following are some facts about U.S. author Studs Terkel, who died on Friday at age 96.

* In 1985, Terkel won a Pulitzer Prize for his nonfiction book "The Good War: An Oral History of World War Two," one of more than a dozen best-selling books peopled with his interview subjects.

* His real name was Louis and his nickname was derived from the James Farrell novel "Studs Lonigan."

* Terkel's first book was the critically acclaimed "Giants of Jazz" in 1957 and his best-known was probably "Working" in 1974.

* His books focused on the words spoken by common men and women -- factory workers, neighborhood activists, police officers and crooks -- as well as the views of the more celebrated.

* Terkel also appeared in John Sayles' 1988 movie "Eight Men Out," about the 1919 Black Sox baseball scandal, playing the role of a sportswriter who suspects the players are throwing the World Series.

* Terkel excelled for four decades as host of a daily hourlong show on Chicago's WFMT public radio station. He said he did not interview his guests but engaged in "conversations" that he occasionally dominated.

Sources: Reuters/www.pulitzer.org

(Writing by Paul Grant, Washington Editorial Reference Unit, editing by Cynthia Osterman)