Gene Rayburn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gene Rayburn
|
|
|---|---|
Rayburn on the set of Match Game 76
|
|
| Born |
Eugen Peter Jeljenic
December 22, 1917 Christopher, Illinois, U.S.
|
| Died | November 29, 1999 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Game show host, announcer, actor |
| Years active | 1953–1998 |
| Known for | Match Game |
| Spouse(s) |
Helen Ticknor
(m. 1940; died 1996) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |
Gene Rayburn (born Eugen Peter Jeljenic; December 22, 1917 – November 29, 1999) was a famous American radio and television personality. He is best known for hosting the popular TV game show Match Game for more than twenty years.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Gene Rayburn was born in Christopher, Illinois. His father passed away when Gene was a baby. His mother later moved to Chicago and remarried. Gene then took the name Eugene Rubessa.
He went to Lindblom Technical High School and then Knox College. Gene loved acting and singing opera. He moved to New York City hoping to become an actor. When he couldn't find stage work, he started as a page and tour guide at NBC studios.
After three years, Gene began working as an announcer at different radio stations. He eventually returned to New York to work at WNEW. He also served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Gene chose his stage name "Rayburn" by picking a random name from a phone book!
A Career in Radio and TV
Starting in Radio
Before becoming a TV star, Gene Rayburn was a successful actor and radio host. He had a popular morning radio show in New York City on WNEW. First, he hosted Anything Goes with Jack Lescoulie. Later, he teamed up with Dee Finch for Rayburn & Finch. These shows helped make the morning radio format popular.
Gene even helped make songs famous, like "Music! Music! Music!" by Teresa Brewer. He also co-wrote the lyrics for "Hop-Scotch Polka". Later in his career, Gene took over the lead role in the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie. This happened when Dick Van Dyke left the show.
Moving to Television
Gene Rayburn started in television as the first announcer for Steve Allen's Tonight show. In 1953, he began working with famous game show producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. He appeared on shows like The Name's the Same and hosted Make the Connection.
He also hosted other game shows such as Choose Up Sides, Dough Re Mi, and the daytime version of Tic Tac Dough. Gene was also a frequent guest on popular 1960s and 1970s game shows like What's My Line? and To Tell the Truth.
Hosting Match Game
Gene Rayburn is most famous for hosting The Match Game from 1962 to 1969. In this first version, which was live from New York, Gene would ask questions to two teams. Each team had a celebrity and two people from the audience. The questions were simple, like "Name a kind of muffin." Gene usually played it straight, but he would make jokes when it felt right.
In 1973, Goodson-Todman brought Match Game back, but with a new twist! This time, it was filmed in California. Gene Rayburn returned as host. The new format had two contestants trying to match answers with six celebrities. The questions became much funnier, and Gene loved this new, playful style. He would often use funny voices and joke around with the celebrities.
This new Match Game quickly became the most popular daytime TV show. From 1973 to 1977, it was the number one game show. Regular celebrity panelists included Richard Dawson, Brett Somers, and Charles Nelson Reilly. The daytime show ran until 1979, and a nighttime version, Match Game PM, aired from 1975 to 1981. Gene Rayburn was even nominated for three Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host awards!
During these years, Gene lived far away in Massachusetts. He would fly to California every two weeks to film many shows over a weekend.
In 1983, Match Game was revived again as part of the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour. Gene hosted the Match Game parts of the show. However, he was reportedly not very happy with how this version turned out.
Other TV Appearances
Besides Match Game, Gene Rayburn was a guest on other game shows like What's My Line? and To Tell the Truth. He and his wife, Helen, also appeared on the game show Tattletales. Gene even hosted some episodes of Tattletales himself.
He was a guest star on The Love Boat in 1980. He also appeared as a contestant on Card Sharks and as a celebrity guest on Password Plus. Gene played a game show host on Fantasy Island, where he and another host competed to create the best game show.
Gene's last time hosting a game show was on Break the Bank in 1985, and The Movie Masters from 1989 to 1990. In 1990, Gene Rayburn appeared as himself in a Saturday Night Live comedy sketch. He also continued to appear on talk shows to discuss classic game shows.
Personal Life and Legacy
Gene Rayburn was married to Helen Ticknor from 1940 until she passed away in 1996. They had one daughter, Lynne.
One of his last TV appearances was an interview for Access Hollywood in 1998. This interview was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Match Game '73. He also appeared in an A&E Biography episode about his boss, Mark Goodson, which aired after Gene had passed away.
Gene Rayburn received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. A month later, on November 29, 1999, he passed away at his daughter's home at age 81. His ashes were spread in his daughter's garden.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | It Happened to Jane | Himself – WTIC-TV Reporter | Uncredited |
Images for kids
-
Rayburn on the set of Match Game 76
-
With Dennis Weaver and Michael Landon during a 1964 Match Game episode
See also
In Spanish: Gene Rayburn para niños
