Actor, Comedian, and Game Show Host. He is best remembered as the host of the popular television game show "The $64,000 Question." Born in San Francisco, California to Jewish parents he began his entertainment career in 1944 as part of a comedy team with Bob Sweeney and had their own radio show in the early 1950s as "Sweeney and March." He made appearances on early television shows like "I Love Lucy," "Burns and Allen," and "The Imogene Coca Show" before becoming the host of "The $64,000 Question," which was broadcast from 1955 to 1958. Because of a scandal that involved the show's sponsor, Revlon, it was cancelled and aside from a few film roles such as "Hear Me Good" and "Send Me No Flowers," he was out of work for almost ten years. In 1961 he starred in an unsold television pilot "I Married a Dog" and in 1966 he appeared on episodes of several television sitcoms, including "Gidget," "In and Out with the In-Laws," "The Monkees," "Hey, Landlord," and "The Lucy Show" as well as appearing in the movie "A Guide for the Married Man." In July 1969 his career started to improve when he began hosting the television game show "It's Your Bet." After 13 weeks of taping he began feeling ill and medical tests revealed that he had lung cancer, due to years of chain smoking. He died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 49. He received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for his radio show and the other for his work in television.
Actor, Comedian, and Game Show Host. He is best remembered as the host of the popular television game show "The $64,000 Question." Born in San Francisco, California to Jewish parents he began his entertainment career in 1944 as part of a comedy team with Bob Sweeney and had their own radio show in the early 1950s as "Sweeney and March." He made appearances on early television shows like "I Love Lucy," "Burns and Allen," and "The Imogene Coca Show" before becoming the host of "The $64,000 Question," which was broadcast from 1955 to 1958. Because of a scandal that involved the show's sponsor, Revlon, it was cancelled and aside from a few film roles such as "Hear Me Good" and "Send Me No Flowers," he was out of work for almost ten years. In 1961 he starred in an unsold television pilot "I Married a Dog" and in 1966 he appeared on episodes of several television sitcoms, including "Gidget," "In and Out with the In-Laws," "The Monkees," "Hey, Landlord," and "The Lucy Show" as well as appearing in the movie "A Guide for the Married Man." In July 1969 his career started to improve when he began hosting the television game show "It's Your Bet." After 13 weeks of taping he began feeling ill and medical tests revealed that he had lung cancer, due to years of chain smoking. He died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 49. He received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for his radio show and the other for his work in television.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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