Tom Kennedy (television host)
Tom Kennedy | |
|---|---|
 Kennedy in the 1960s | |
| Born | James Edward Narz February 26, 1927 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | October 7, 2020 (aged 93) Oxnard, California, U.S.[1] |
| Occupation | Game show host |
| Years active | 1958–1989 |
| Notable credit(s) | You Don't Say! (1963–69, 1975) Name That Tune (1974–1981) Whew! (1979–1980) Password Plus (1980–1982) Body Language (1984–1986) The Price Is Right (1985–1986, nighttime) Wordplay (1986–1987) |
| Spouse |
Betty Gevedon
(m. 1952; died 2011) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Jack Narz (brother) |
James Edward Narz (February 26, 1927 – October 7, 2020), known professionally as Tom Kennedy, was an American television host best known for his work in game shows.[2] Game shows Kennedy hosted included Password Plus, Split Second, Name That Tune, and You Don't Say!
Early years
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, James Edward Narz was the son of John Lawrence Narz Sr., and the younger brother of host Jack Narz (1922–2008), whose son, David, related about his uncle's name change that the brothers wanted to avoid the perceived conflict of having two announcers with the same last name promoting competing products. "After a lunch meeting with his agent," he said, "... he emerged as Tom Kennedy."[2][3]
Kennedy attended the University of Missouri and the University of Kentucky.[4]
Kennedy did TV commercial spots for Regal Beer on Ozark Jubilee (later Jubilee USA), an ABC series which ran from 1955 to 1960. He introduced himself as Jim Narz in the commercials.[5]
Radio
While attending the University of Missouri, Kennedy worked at KFRU in Columbia, Missouri. While in Lexington, Kentucky, he worked at WKLX. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked for five years at KPOL and had a part-time job at KGIL.[4]
Shows
Kennedy's biggest hit series were You Don't Say! which aired on NBC from 1963 to 1969, and on ABC in 1975; Split Second (1972–1975); Name That Tune (1974–1981); and Password Plus, which he hosted from 1980 to 1982 following the illness (and later death) of original host Allen Ludden. His other hosting credits include The Big Game (1958), Dr. I.Q. (1958–59), It's Your Bet (1971–72), Break the Bank (1976), 50 Grand Slam (1976), To Say the Least (1977–78), Whew! (1979–80), Body Language (1984–1986), a syndicated nighttime version of The Price Is Right (1985–86) and Wordplay (1986–87).[6] He briefly hosted a talk show, The Real Tom Kennedy Show, in the early 1970s, and appeared as a guest panelist on To Tell the Truth, Hollywood Squares, Liar's Club and other game shows.[7] As an actor, he made guest appearances on such shows as The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Cannon, That Girl, and Hardcastle and McCormick.[8]
Retirement and death
Kennedy retired in 1989 after several game show pilots produced by his production company failed to sell. In 2003, he appeared on Hollywood Squares during "Game Show Week Part 2".[7][9]
After a period of ill health, Kennedy died at his home in Oxnard, California, on October 7, 2020, at the age of 93.[10][11]
Awards
In July 2005, Kennedy and his brother Jack Narz were co-recipients of the Game Show Congress's Bill Cullen Award for Lifetime Achievement.[12] Cullen was a brother-in-law of Narz and Kennedy.[13]
See also
References
- ^ Vogt, Dustin (October 11, 2020). "Louisville native, TV host Tom Kennedy dies at 93". WAVE 3 News.
- ^ a b Baber, David (2007). Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars. McFarland & Co. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-7864-2926-4. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ Leszczak, Bob (2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950–2000. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 242–43. ISBN 978-1-4422-4274-6. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
- ^ a b Baber, David (June 14, 2015). Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars. McFarland. pp. 133–34. ISBN 978-1-4766-0480-0. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
- ^ Ozark Jubilee March 26, 1955 Segment 1. Ozark Jubilee. March 26, 1955. Event occurs at 7:53.
- ^ Kelley, Sonaiya (October 11, 2020). "Veteran game show host Tom Kennedy dies at 93". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b Fuster, Jeremy (October 11, 2020). "Tom Kennedy, 'Name That Tune' Host, Dies at 93". TheWrap.
- ^ Waldo, Garren (October 12, 2020). "Name That Tune Game Show Host Tom Kennedy Has Passed Away At 93". Soap Hub.
- ^ "Hollywood Squares - Game Show Week Part 2". youtube.com. Sony Pictures Television. November 3, 2003.
- ^ "'Name That Tune' Game Show Host Tom Kennedy Dead at 93". TMZ. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ "Tom Kennedy, Genial Journeyman of TV Game Shows, Dies at 93". The New York Times. October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "News From ME – Mark Evanier's blog". www.newsfromme.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ "Place the Face". billcullen.net. The Bill Cullen Archive. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
External links
- Tom Kennedy at IMDb