Adrian Cronauer: Real 'Good Morning, Vietnam' DJ Dies Aged 79

Adrian Cronauer in Vietnam (Image: American Veterans Center)

The Sergeant whose military radio antics inspired Robin Williams' breakout character in the film 'Good Morning, Vietnam', has died aged 79.

Adrian Cronauer, who served with the US Air Force in Vietnam between 1965 and 1966, died from an age-related illness in a nursing home in Troutville, Virginia.

While in Vietnam, Cronauer would open his Armed Forces Radio show with the phrase, "Goooooood morning, Vietnam!"

Robin Williams made the refrain famous in the 1987 film, loosely basing his character on Cronauer's time in Saigon.

Like the film, Cronauer quickly dropped traditional favourites like Perry Como and Lawrence Welk from his breakfast show playlist in favour of Tom Jones, the Righteous Brothers and the Beatles.

Cronauer said he loved the movie but much of it was Hollywood fiction.

Williams portrayed his character as a fast-talking, nonconformist DJ which sometimes gave people the wrong impression of the man who inspired the film.

Cronauer told the Associated Press in 1989: "Yes, I did try to make it sound more like a stateside station.

"Yes, I did have problems with news censorship. Yes, I was in a restaurant shortly before the Viet Cong hit it. And yes, I did start each program by yelling, 'Good Morning,Vietnam!'"

After finishing his service with the military, Cronauer worked in radio, television, and advertising.

He also attended the University of Pennsylvania's law school and went into the legal profession, working in communications law and later handling prisoner-of-war issues for the Pentagon.