Tom Kennedy, the television game show host for “You Don’t Say!” and “Name That Tune,” died on Oct. 7 in Oxnard, Calif. He was 93.
Kennedy’s close friend Steve Beverly confirmed his death on Facebook, writing: “Tom had not been well in recent months but remained in communication with his family and close friends… Later, after I have time to clearly process this, I will offer my own remembrances of a relationship that evolved from his being my childhood icon to a genuine friendship I will always cherish.”
Kennedy was born Jim Narz on Feb. 26., 1927 in Louisville, Ky. Inspired by his older brother, Jack, who was also a television host, Kennedy moved to Los Angeles in 1947 to begin a broadcast career. After 10 years in radio and marrying his high school sweetheart, Betty Gevedon, Kennedy began hosting game shows as they rose to popularity in the ’50s. But, with his brother a host as well,...
Kennedy’s close friend Steve Beverly confirmed his death on Facebook, writing: “Tom had not been well in recent months but remained in communication with his family and close friends… Later, after I have time to clearly process this, I will offer my own remembrances of a relationship that evolved from his being my childhood icon to a genuine friendship I will always cherish.”
Kennedy was born Jim Narz on Feb. 26., 1927 in Louisville, Ky. Inspired by his older brother, Jack, who was also a television host, Kennedy moved to Los Angeles in 1947 to begin a broadcast career. After 10 years in radio and marrying his high school sweetheart, Betty Gevedon, Kennedy began hosting game shows as they rose to popularity in the ’50s. But, with his brother a host as well,...
- 10/11/2020
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Tom Kennedy, a longtime game show host, died this past week at the age of 93, according to a social media post by close friend Steve Beverly.
Born Jim Narz in Louisville, Kentucky, Kennedy got his start in broadcasting via a radio job while study at the University of Missouri. After a decade in radio and a marriage to his college sweetheart Betty Gevedon, he moved to Hollywood and decided to follow in his brother Jack’s footsteps in television. To distinguish himself from his brother, he changed his name to Tom Kennedy and got his start as a game show host in 1958 with the short-lived NBC game show, “The Big Game.”
After several years of jumping from one show to the next, Kennedy got his big break in 1963 with the NBC show “You Don’t Say!,” a “Password”-esque show where contestants try to get a celebrity guest to identify...
Born Jim Narz in Louisville, Kentucky, Kennedy got his start in broadcasting via a radio job while study at the University of Missouri. After a decade in radio and a marriage to his college sweetheart Betty Gevedon, he moved to Hollywood and decided to follow in his brother Jack’s footsteps in television. To distinguish himself from his brother, he changed his name to Tom Kennedy and got his start as a game show host in 1958 with the short-lived NBC game show, “The Big Game.”
After several years of jumping from one show to the next, Kennedy got his big break in 1963 with the NBC show “You Don’t Say!,” a “Password”-esque show where contestants try to get a celebrity guest to identify...
- 10/11/2020
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Veteran TV game show host Tom Kennedy, who emceed the likes of Name That Tune and Split Second, died on Oct. 7 at the age of 93, according to a friend, Steve Beverly. The cause of death is unknown, though Beverly shared on Facebook that Kennedy “had not been well in recent months.”
Born Jim Narz, Kennedy broke into the business with 1958’s The Big Game and Dr. I.Q., which aired throughout the 1958-59 season. His first major success was NBC’s You Don’t Say!, which ran from 1963 to 1969; the series was later revived by ABC six years later. In...
Born Jim Narz, Kennedy broke into the business with 1958’s The Big Game and Dr. I.Q., which aired throughout the 1958-59 season. His first major success was NBC’s You Don’t Say!, which ran from 1963 to 1969; the series was later revived by ABC six years later. In...
- 10/11/2020
- by Nick Caruso
- TVLine.com
Television host Tom Kennedy, who hosted game shows Split Second, Name That Tune, and You Don’t Say!, died October 7 at age 93, according to his friend, Steve Beverly. No cause of death was given.
Born James Edward Narz in Louisville, Kentucky Kennedy attended the University of Missouri before heading to Hollywood in 1947, to join brother Jack Narz.
His first break was as a game show host in the showThe Big Game in 1958 and Dr. I.Q. in the 1958-59 season. But his first major success was You Don’t Say!, which lasted six seasons from 1963 to 1969 on NBC, and was later revived by ABC in 1975.
Kennedy’s longest stint came with the syndicated revival of Name That Tune, which aired once per week (expanded to twice a week for its final season) from 1974 to 81.
His other hosting credits included Break the Bank and 50 Grand Slam, both in 1976; To Say the Least from 1977-78; Whew!
Born James Edward Narz in Louisville, Kentucky Kennedy attended the University of Missouri before heading to Hollywood in 1947, to join brother Jack Narz.
His first break was as a game show host in the showThe Big Game in 1958 and Dr. I.Q. in the 1958-59 season. But his first major success was You Don’t Say!, which lasted six seasons from 1963 to 1969 on NBC, and was later revived by ABC in 1975.
Kennedy’s longest stint came with the syndicated revival of Name That Tune, which aired once per week (expanded to twice a week for its final season) from 1974 to 81.
His other hosting credits included Break the Bank and 50 Grand Slam, both in 1976; To Say the Least from 1977-78; Whew!
- 10/11/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Tom Kennedy, a veteran host of game shows including Name That Tune, Split Second and Password Plus, has died. He was 93.
Kennedy died Wednesday night at his home in Oxnard, California. Steve Beverly, host of Steve Beverly’s TV Classics who was a friend of Kennedy, shared the news on Facebook via Kennedy’s daughter Linda. No cause of death was given.
Over the years, Kennedy hosted a total of 16 shows, including Dr. I.Q. and You Don’t Say!
Kennedy was born Jim Narz in Louisville, Ky. in 1927. He was inspired by his brother, TV host Jack Narz, to pursue a career ...
Kennedy died Wednesday night at his home in Oxnard, California. Steve Beverly, host of Steve Beverly’s TV Classics who was a friend of Kennedy, shared the news on Facebook via Kennedy’s daughter Linda. No cause of death was given.
Over the years, Kennedy hosted a total of 16 shows, including Dr. I.Q. and You Don’t Say!
Kennedy was born Jim Narz in Louisville, Ky. in 1927. He was inspired by his brother, TV host Jack Narz, to pursue a career ...
- 10/11/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Tom Kennedy, a veteran host of game shows including Name That Tune, Split Second and Password Plus, has died. He was 93.
Kennedy died Wednesday night at his home in Oxnard, California. Steve Beverly, host of Steve Beverly’s TV Classics who was a friend of Kennedy, shared the news on Facebook via Kennedy’s daughter Linda. No cause of death was given.
Over the years, Kennedy hosted a total of 16 shows, including Dr. I.Q. and You Don’t Say!
Kennedy was born Jim Narz in Louisville, Ky. in 1927. He was inspired by his brother, TV host Jack Narz, to pursue a career ...
Kennedy died Wednesday night at his home in Oxnard, California. Steve Beverly, host of Steve Beverly’s TV Classics who was a friend of Kennedy, shared the news on Facebook via Kennedy’s daughter Linda. No cause of death was given.
Over the years, Kennedy hosted a total of 16 shows, including Dr. I.Q. and You Don’t Say!
Kennedy was born Jim Narz in Louisville, Ky. in 1927. He was inspired by his brother, TV host Jack Narz, to pursue a career ...
- 10/11/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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