| Gene Rayburn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Eugene Peter Jeljenic/Rubessa |
| Born: | December 22, 1917 |
| Birth Hometown: | Christopher, Illinois |
| Died: | November 29, 1999 (age 81) |
| Place of death: | Gloucester, Massachusetts |
| Occupation: | Host, Comedian, Actor |
| Years active: | 1953-1998 |
| Known for: | Hosting Match Game |
Gene Rayburn (born December 22, 1917 – died November 29, 1999) was an American radio and television personality.
Life[]
Gene Rayburn was born Eugene Peter Jeljenic in Christopher, Illinois, and was the younger of two children born to Croatian immigrants. After his father died, his name was changed to Eugene Rubessa after his step-father, who moved the family to Chicago. He graduated from Lindblom Technical High School, and later, Knox College. He also served in the Army during World War II. He chose his stage name, Gene Rayburn, by randomly pointing at a page in the telephone book. Gene is best known as the original host of The Match Game.
Death[]
Gene died of congestive heart failure at his daughter's home in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on November 29, 1999.
Shows hosted[]
The Sky's the Limit (1954-55; local WNBC series)
Make the Connection (1955)
Choose Up Sides (1956)
Dough Re Mi (1958-60)
Head of the Class (1960 unsold pilot)
Play Your Hunch (1962 daytime, interim host)
(The) Match Game (1962-69, 1973-82)
To Tell the Truth (1965, sub)
It's Predictable (1970 unsold pilot)
The Amateur's Guide to Love (1972)
TattleTales (1970s, sub)
Party Line (1983, unsold show later reworked into Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak in 1986)
The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour (Match Game half only, 1983-84)
It (1984, unsold pilot later reworked into Tarby's Frame Game in Britian from 1987-89)
Break the Bank (1985; also hosted the 1984 pilot)
The Movie Masters (1989-90)
Gallery[]
Early Photos[]
Match Game Craziness[]
Rayburn on SNL in 1990[]
Video[]
Links[]
Gene Rayburn's World @ gameshowutopia.net
Gene Rayburn at Wikipedia
Gene Rayburn at the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)