Bill Cullen | |
---|---|
Name: | William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen |
Born: | February 18, 1920 |
Birth Hometown: | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Died: | July 7, 1990 (age 70) |
Place of death: | Bel Air, California, U.S. |
Occupation: | Host, Comedian, Radio DJ, Pilot |
Years active: | 1946-1987 |
Known for: | Hosting the original version of The Price is Right and To Tell the Truth |
William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen (b. February 18, 1920 – d. July 7, 1990) was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades. He was best known for television game shows, where he hosted multiple series (including the original version of The Price is Right, The $25,000 Pyramid, and Blockbusters), and served as a panelist for over twenty years combined on I've Got a Secret and To Tell the Truth.
Death[]
Cullen died on July 7, 1990, of lung cancer as he smoked for the majority of his life.
Trivia[]
He was in the running to host the 1972 revival of The Price is Right for CBS but the physical demands of the new format were considered too strenuous for him.
Famous Catchphrase[]
"Please do not help". - Requesting the studio audience not to shout out answers as a critical question is asked.
Game Shows hosted[]
Radio[]
- Winner Take All (1946-1950)
- Catch Me if You Can (1948)
- Hit the Jackpot (1948-1949, 1950)
- Beat the Clock (1949; quiz show unrelated to the later stunt show)
- Quick as a Flash (1949-1951)
- Fun For All (1952-1953, as co-host)
- Walk a Mile (1953-1955)
- Stop the Music (1954-1955)
TV[]
- Act It Out (1949)
- Meet Your Match (1949; WOR series that ran just two episodes)
- Winner Take All (1952)
- Quick as a Flash (1952 pilot)
- Give and Take (1952, as co-host)
- Professor Yes 'n' No (1952)
- Place the Face (1954)
- Bank on the Stars (1954)
- Name That Tune (1954-1955)
- Down You Go (1956)
- The Price is Right (1956-1965)
- Eye Guess (1966-1969)
- The Choice Is Yours (1970, unsold pilot)
- To Tell the Truth (1970s, sub)
- Three on a Match (1971-1974)
- Winning Streak (1974-1975)
- The $25,000 Pyramid (1974-1979)
- Blankety Blanks (1975)
- I've Got a Secret (1976; also hosted the 1975 pilots)
- Equal Partners (1976, unsold pilot)
- How Do You Like Your Eggs? (1977, unsold pilots)
- Pass the Buck (1978; also hosted the 1977 pilots)
- The Love Experts (1978-1979)
- Decisions Decisions (1978, unsold pilots)
- Fantasies Fulfilled (1979, unsold pilot)
- Punch Lines (1979, unsold pilot)
- Chain Reaction (1980; also hosted the 1979 pilot)
- Password Plus (1980, sub)
- Blockbusters (1980-1982)
- Child's Play (1982-1983)
- (Celebrity) Hot Potato (1984; also hosted the 1983 pilot)
- The Joker's Wild (1984-1986)
Book[]
Adam Nedeff wrote an autobiography about Bill Cullen titled Quizmaster: The Life and Times and Fun and Games of Bill Cullen, which was published in hardcover, paperback and kindle by BearManor Media in July 2013.
Gallery[]
Bill rarely takes his glasses off, unless it was for a silly reason. Here are two examples.
Links[]
Bill Cullen's World @ gameshowutopia.net (Older)
Bill Cullen's World @ gameshowutopia.net
The Bill Cullen Homepage