Jim Perry (television personality) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jim Perry
Perry circa 1980s
Born	James Edward Dooley (1933-11-09)November 9, 1933 Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	November 20, 2015(2015-11-20) (aged 82) Ashland, Oregon, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania
Occupation	TV presenter, game show host, singer
Years active	1960–1995
Television	Definition, Card Sharks, $ale of the Century
Spouse(s)	June Perry ​ (m. 1959⁠–⁠2015)​
Children	2

Jim Perry (born November 9, 1933 – died November 20, 2015) was a famous American-Canadian TV host, singer, and announcer. He was especially well-known for hosting game shows in the 1970s and 1980s.

Jim Perry was very successful on both Canadian and American television. He hosted popular American game shows like Card Sharks and $ale of the Century. In Canada, he hosted Definition and Headline Hunters. He also hosted the Miss Canada pageant for many years.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Jim Perry was born as James Edward Dooley in Camden, New Jersey. His mother, Genevieve Perry, was a great swimmer and dancer. His father, Edward Dooley, was a musician. Jim was very tall, standing at 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm), which helped him become an excellent basketball player in high school. Because of his height, people often called him "Big Jim."

After college at the University of Pennsylvania, Jim started his career as a singer. He worked for Armed Forces Radio during the Korean War. Later, he performed comedy with famous comedian Sid Caesar for several years. He used his birth name, Jim Dooley, for a while. But because another person in TV had a similar name, he decided to use his mother's maiden name, Perry, for his television work.

First TV Hosting Jobs

Jim Perry's first TV hosting job was in Canada. He hosted a game show called Fractured Phrases in 1965. After that, he hosted other Canadian game shows like Eye Bet and The Moneymakers. In the early 1970s, Jim and his family moved to Canada. They moved back to the U.S. in the late 1970s when he got the job to host Card Sharks.

Jim also worked as an announcer for a short time. From 1969 to 1972, he was a weekend DJ at a radio station in New York City called WABC. In 1974, he became the announcer for the Canadian game show Definition. This show was similar to Wheel of Fortune. After a few weeks, Jim became the host of Definition and stayed until the show ended in 1989. He also hosted another long-running Canadian game show, Headline Hunters, from 1972 to 1983.

Hosting the Miss Canada Pageant

Jim Perry was the host of the annual Miss Canada Pageant from 1967 to 1990. This was similar to how Bob Barker hosted the Miss USA Pageant in the U.S. Jim was a talented singer, and he would often sing the pageant's closing song, The Fairest Girl in Canada, after the new Miss Canada was crowned.

During the 1975 Miss Canada pageant, something unexpected happened. A protester threw a packet of flour at Jim while he was on camera. The protester said the pageant was unfair to women. Jim was surprised, but he quickly got his composure back and continued the show.

Becoming a Star Game Show Host

Jim Perry's biggest opportunity in the United States came in 1978. He was chosen to host a new game show called Card Sharks for NBC. He hosted the show from April 24, 1978, until October 23, 1981. This show helped Jim become a well-known face on NBC for over ten years.

In 1982, NBC chose Jim to host $ale of the Century. This was a new version of an older game show. He hosted it from January 3, 1983, until March 24, 1989. For more than six years, he led this fast-paced question-and-answer game. Starting in 1985, he also hosted a nightly version of $ale of the Century that ran until 1986.

Jim's friendly style and exciting way of selling prizes made $ale of the Century a huge hit. This made him one of the most popular game show hosts in the 1980s. He often told jokes related to the questions on $ale of the Century, showing his comedy background with Sid Caesar.

Throughout his career, Jim Perry hosted about ten different game shows. He also supported many charities in both Southern California and Canada. He was a regular host for the annual Telemiracle telethon in Saskatchewan, Canada, which raised money for local clubs. His daughter, Erin, even appeared on some of these telethons and once sang a song with him.

Retirement and Later Years

Jim Perry retired from hosting in 1990. In his later years, he wrote two books about self-awareness. He also appeared in some TV commercials that were like long advertisements, often produced by his daughter Erin. In 1991, he made a brief appearance on a game show called Studs.

In 1994, Jim Perry hosted a test show for a lottery game show called Cash Tornado. The show was never picked up, but a video of it was later shared online.

Personal Life

Jim Perry met his wife, June, when he was working at Grossingers, a resort. June became a successful model. Later, when they lived in Canada, she ran her own art gallery. She also had a pottery business in North Carolina. Jim and June celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2009.

Their son, Sean Perry, became a television producer. Their daughter, Erin Perry, worked as a producer for game shows like The $25,000 Pyramid.

After retiring, Jim and June Perry lived in Oregon and North Carolina. Their final home was in Ashland, Oregon.

Death

In 2010, Jim Perry was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away from the disease on November 20, 2015, shortly after his 82nd birthday.