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| Johnny Gilbert | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 13, 1924 Newport News, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Announcer/Game show host |
| Years active | 1958–present |
Johnny Gilbert (born July 13, 1924 in Newport News, Virginia) is an American television personality who has worked primarily on game shows. Originally a game show host, he has become known primarily as an announcer for several titles dating back to the 1950s. Since 1984, he has been the announcer of the quiz show Jeopardy!.
Career
A former nightclub singer and entertainer, Gilbert also emceed a number of game shows in the 1950s and 1960s, among them being Music Bingo, Fast Draw, and Beat the Odds. In the 1960s, he replaced Don Pardo as the voice of the Bill Cullen-hosted The Price Is Right when it moved from NBC to ABC. He also hosted his own local talk/variety show on WLWD-TV (now WDTN) in Dayton, Ohio (when Gilbert left Dayton on short notice to accept a hosting job in Los Angeles, his slot was given to a reporter in the station's news department, Phil Donahue.)
Other credits that Gilbert has held over the years included The Dinah Shore Program (from 1973-1981), Sports Challenge, Camouflage, Chain Reaction, Go, Blackout, The $25,000 Pyramid, The Quiz Kids Challenge, and Supermarket Sweep. He also substituted for Gene Wood on several Goodson-Todman game shows, including Family Feud and the CBS version of Card Sharks, in addition to succeeding Wood as the announcer for Love Connection on the 1988-1989 season. Gilbert has also occasionally filled in for Charlie O'Donnell on Merv Griffin's other show Wheel of Fortune firstly as an interim announcer following the death of Jack Clark in 1988, then again in 1995 when O'Donnell was ill, and also when he returned for a April 1, 1997 special, hosted by Alex Trebek.[citation needed]
When the quiz show Jeopardy! was brought back in 1984 with Alex Trebek as host, Gilbert was selected as the show's announcer, a role he has held ever since. His opening of "This is Jeopardy!" (with pauses in-between words) has been parodied often by several comedians, especially on SNL skits.
Presently 85 years old, Gilbert holds the record as the oldest announcer of a television game show.
| Preceded by Gene Wood on Love Connection |
Voice on Love Connection 1988-1989 |
Succeeded by John Cervenka (1989-1994; 1998-1999) |
| Preceded by Don Pardo |
Announcer on The Price Is Right September 9, 1963-September 3, 1965 |
Succeeded by Johnny Olson (in the 1972 revival) |
| Preceded by John Harlan |
Announcer on Jeopardy! 1984-present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
External links
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