Who Was Gene Rayburn? Gene Rayburn Death Cause?

Gene Rayburn, the beloved host of “The Match Game,” passed away Nov. 29 at 81 years old at his daughter’s home in Gloucester, Mass. He will be missed by millions around the world as host of “The Match Game.”

“The Match Game” was a popular game show during much of the 1960s and 1970s. Contestants would attempt to match answers to nonsense questions with celebrities such as Richard Dawson, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Betty White on an expert panel.

Gene Rayburn Death Cause?

Gene Rayburn was married to Helen Ticknor from 1940 until her death in October 1996, and they had one child, Lynne. One of his last TV appearances was a 1998 interview with Access Hollywood for the 25th anniversary of Match Game;

Though in declining health, Rayburn still made a special appearance to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on November 29, 1999.

Unfortunately, one month later on November 29th 1999 he passed away of congestive heart failure at his daughter’s home in Gloucester Massachusetts at age 81.

His ashes  cremated and scattered amongst her garden. Rayburn’s final television appearance was an interview for the A&E Biography episode profiling the life of his longtime boss Mark Goodson; though shot in late 1999, the episode itself didn’t air until June 4, 2000, several months after Rayburn had passed away.

Know Everything About Gene Rayburn

Gene Rayburn (December 22, 1917-November 29, 1999) was an American radio and television personality best known for hosting various editions of the long-running American game show Match Game for two decades.

Mr. Rayburn, who received a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, had nominated for five Daytime Emmy awards. Additionally, he invented the long, thin microphone used on his show which he carried throughout its run.

Mr. Rayburn, born in Christopher, Ill., relocated to New York during the 1930s to pursue a career as an opera singer.

Following his service in the Army during World War II, Rayburn became a disc jockey and created the popular morning drive time show “Rayburn & Finch” on WNEW with partner Dee Finch.

From 1953 to 1959, he served as announcer for Steve Allen on “The Tonight Show,” broadcast on NBC-TV, providing comic weather reports and appearing in sketches alongside Louis Nye and Buddy Hackett.

In the early 1960s, he finally earned a chance to work in theater, appearing on Broadway with “Bye Bye Birdie” and touring with the national company of “Come Blow Your Horn.”

Television audiences  treated to live dramas on “Kraft Theatre” and “Robert Montgomery Presents,” both hosted by his sister Christina Montgomery.

But he quickly made himself known as a game show expert, hosting ABC’s “The Name’s the Same,” NBC’s “Make the Connection,” Dough-Re-Mi” and “Play Your Hunch,” before “The Match Game” premiered in 1962.

His beloved wife Helen, who co-starred on the short lived 1970s game show “Tattletales,” passed away in 1996. Surviving him is his daughter Lynne Rayburn of Gloucester.

Read Also:

• In Southeast DC Shooting A 13 year Old Boy Shooting Death
• German singer Rob Pilatus Death Cause? Who Was Rob Pilatus?
• Elizabeth Pena Cause of Death? Who Was Elizabeth Pena?