For a long time, I hosted an album-oriented rock radio station which was noted for its laid-back and irreverent format.

Next, I was hired as a political reporter, and later served as a news commentator.

Wow, this is tough. So many directions that don't seem to add up.
I'm assuming the AOR station is WNEW FM, and I thought I knew most of the people who were on there. But I can't think of anyone who matches up with the other stuff.
Well, long shot though I don't know if he ever was a political reporter; I don't even know if he is known nationally: Jonathan Schwartz.

I too was thinking of WNEW (Which I listed to as a teenager growing up in New York) But when I think of the personalities there, none of them seem to fit. I am going out on a limb though because I know he got in some scandal trouble and came out smelling like a rose somehow, and guess "The Professor, Scott Muni.

Not Jonathan or Scott.

My own TV show debuted in 1991. It was developed to mimic the format and look of The Phil Donahue Show.

Jerry Springer?

You got it, Landmark! Until I looked him up, I never knew he had such an interesting background.

These were to be my remaining clues:

Three years later, in order to garner higher ratings, I revamped the show's format to focus on sensationalism.

By 1998, my show was beating The Oprah Winfrey Show in many cities, reaching more than 6.7 million viewers.

In 2018, my TV show aired its final episode in syndication after 27 seasons.

I debuted a new courtroom show entitled Judge Jerry, on September 9, 2019.

I vaguely remembered he had a background in Ohio politics, but really no idea about the rest. It was really a wild guess for me based on the Phil Donahue clue.

I'll pass to whoever wants it.

1. I was born in Wisconsin in 1967
2. It would be many years before I found out I was dyslexic
3. Not the career I am known for, but I spent about ten years working as a bartender

Amelio Estevez?

Not Mr. Estevez...

4. My father is of Italian descent, while my mother is half Italian and half French Canadian.

5. We ended up in California where, while working as a bartender, I co-founded a playhouse and theater company. I directed and starred in several plays.

6. In the mid 1990s, I began to get cast in small movie roles, and I soon graduated to bigger roles in "art house" movies.

7. In the year 2000 I married my wife. We are still together and have three children.

8. In 2001 misfortune struck. My career was picking up, I had just finished filming a very successful mainstream motion picture. The lead was a huge star and I was third star down. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

No idea, Cliff.

9. I had the tumor removed through surgery. Half my face was paralyzed for a year, and while that eventually healed, I am still deaf in one ear.

10. Big things were coming. In the decade after my healing, I averaged two films a year.

11. In 2012 I was given the role that I am most associated with. Two other actors had previously played this role, and not done too well with it. I owned it and made it my own.

12. I played that role in seven movies. Not yet clear if there will be an eighth.