Rod Roddy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rod Roddy
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Roddy on the 32nd season premiere of The Price is Right in 2003
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Robert Ray Roddy
September 28, 1937 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | October 27, 2003 (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Greenwood Memorial Park (Fort Worth) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Rod Ray Roddy |
| Alma mater | Texas Christian University |
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| Years active | 1975–2003 |
Robert Ray Roddy (born September 28, 1937 – died October 27, 2003) was a famous American announcer for radio and television. He was best known for his voice work on many popular game shows.
Roddy's most famous line was "Come on down!" from The Price Is Right. This phrase even appears on his gravestone. He became the announcer for The Price Is Right in 1986 and stayed until his death in 2003. This made him the longest-serving announcer on the show's modern version. Roddy also announced other game shows like Whew! and Press Your Luck. Sometimes, he even appeared on camera during these shows. He also voiced Mike the microphone in Disney's House of Mouse.
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Rod Roddy's Early Career
After finishing college at TCU, Rod Roddy started his career in radio. He worked as a disc jockey and a talk show host in Dallas, Texas. He also worked at other big radio stations, including WKBW-AM in Buffalo, New York.
In the 1970s, Roddy hosted a call-in radio show called Rod Roddy's Hotline. During this time, he sometimes had on-air arguments with callers.
Roddy also announced the TV show Soap from 1977 to 1981. He would say the opening and closing lines: "Confused? You won't be after this week's episode of Soap!" His first job as a game show announcer was on Whew! (1979–1980). After that, he announced several other game shows, including Battlestars (1981–1982), Love Connection (1983–1986), Hit Man (1983), and Press Your Luck (1983–1986). He also lent his voice to many national TV commercials.
Working on The Price Is Right
In 1985, the original announcer for The Price Is Right, Johnny Olson, passed away. Roddy was one of several announcers who filled in for a short time. The show's producers and the TV network liked Roddy the most. Even though he only announced six episodes as a substitute, he was chosen as the new regular announcer on February 17, 1986.
Roddy had been overweight for much of his life. Later, he started a strict diet and exercise plan. He lost almost 200 pounds! The show's host, Bob Barker, often talked about Roddy's amazing weight loss. Because of this, Roddy was often shown on camera when he announced "the next contestant on The Price Is Right." He sometimes even helped with the Showcase games.
Roddy was also known for his bright, colorful, and sparkly jackets. He started wearing these jackets when he hosted teen dances in the 1960s. On The Price Is Right, he first wore bright pastel jackets to stand out from Bob Barker's style. With Barker's encouragement, these jackets became a signature part of the show. Roddy would travel to Thailand several times a year to have these special jackets custom-made from colorful Thai silk.
Health Challenges and Passing
On September 11, 2001, Roddy was diagnosed with colon cancer. He took time off for surgery and treatment. He returned to work about a month later. One year after that, in September 2002, the colon cancer returned. He took another short break for surgery and recovered quickly.
In April 2003, Roddy was diagnosed with male breast cancer. He had surgery, but then faced serious problems. Because of this, he could not announce for The Price Is Right for the rest of that season. These health issues led Roddy to become a spokesperson. He encouraged people to get checked for cancer early.
Roddy continued to announce for The Price Is Right until two months before his death. He passed away on October 27, 2003, shortly after his 66th birthday. After he left the show, other announcers filled in. Rich Fields became the new regular announcer in April 2004. Roddy's last episode aired on October 20, 2003, just one week before he died.
Roddy is buried in Fort Worth, Texas. His tombstone has his famous line, "Come on Down," written on it. After his passing, Bob Barker and Craig Kilborn of The Late Late Show shared tributes to Roddy.
See also
In Spanish: Rod Roddy para niños
