Farrel Austin Levitt (August 1, 1956 – August 4, 2021),[1] known professionally as Dick Farrel, was an American conservative media personality and anti-vaccine activist. Born and raised in Queens, New York City, he graduated from Queens College and began a career in radio broadcasting in the New York City area before moving to Florida in 1983.[2] Farrel was working for WJUP in Jupiter and WFLN in Arcadia (today WCXS). Farrel was known as a shock jock with a provocative style, and also played a role in local Republican Party politics.[3][2] His right-wing talk radio commentary led to a lawsuit for libel in 2002.[4] He later served as a substitute host for Newsmax.[5]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Farrel was a prolific spreader of COVID-19 misinformation via social media.[6] He mocked the pandemic as a "scam", encouraged people to avoid COVID-19 vaccination, and attacked Anthony Fauci as a "power tripping lying freak".[6] Farrel became ill with COVID-19 in summer 2021, and his condition rapidly deteriorated. Once hospitalized, his friends said that he expressed regret about refusing vaccination and about his role in encouraging others to do so.[7] He died from complications of the virus in West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 4, 2021, at age 65.[6][8]