Post by bossradio93 on Oct 28, 2003 12:39:09 GMT -5
'Price is Right' announcer Rod Roddy dies at 66
Tuesday October 28, 2003
By RYAN PEARSON
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) The phrase he shouted out on TV for 17 years ``Come on Down!'' became household words around the country, even if Rod Roddy's name did not.
The veteran television announcer died Monday at Century City Hospital of colon and breast cancer at age 66.
For nearly two decades his voice was familiar to fans of the venerable television game show ``The Price is Right,'' and Roddy stayed with the CBS program as long as his health permitted, host Bob Barker said Monday.
``The courage he showed during those difficult times was an inspiration to us all,'' Barker said.
The talk show host had reminisced just last week about a recent hospital visit he'd paid Roddy.
``I went to the hospital and sat on the edge of his bed and we laughed the whole time we were talking. He was still having fun,'' Barker recalled.
Roddy had taped his last show two months ago, shortly before entering the hospital.
He had undergone colon cancer surgery two years ago and breast cancer surgery earlier this year.
He had appeared to be keeping the disease at bay with chemotherapy treatments until recently, said his longtime agent, Don Pitts.
His illness had prompted the announcer to become a spokesman for early cancer detection.
``I could have prevented all this with a colonoscopy and, of course, that's the campaign I've been on since I had the first surgery,'' he said in a recent interview that was posted on CBS' Web site.
Breast cancer, although typically associated with women, is diagnosed in about 1,500 American men a year, Roddy said in that interview: ``To everybody out there, 'Get a mammogram!' It can happen to men, too.''
Roddy, whose full name was Robert Ray Roddy, was born Sept. 18, 1937, in Fort Worth, Texas, and was graduated from Texas Christian University before going on to become a popular disc jockey in his home state. He also worked in radio in Florida, Louisiana, Illinois and New York.
He found work in Los Angeles doing commercial voice-overs before breaking into television as the announcer for the popular 1970s show ``Soap.''
His announcing stints included ``Love Connection'' (1981-85) and ``Press Your Luck'' (1983-86), but ``The Price is Right'' earned him his greatest fame. He became known on the program for his booming, jovial voice and flashy attire.
``He was quite a character,'' Barker said. ``He was important to the success of the show. He had the spirit of `The Price Is Right.' It's a fun show.''
A private funeral service will be held in Texas, with a memorial service planned sometime later in Los Angeles.
Information on survivors was not available. Pitts said Roddy, who was single, never talked about his relatives except for his mother, who died several years ago.
=
Associated Press Writers Jeff Wilson and Lynn Elber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
(Copyright © 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Tuesday October 28, 2003
By RYAN PEARSON
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) The phrase he shouted out on TV for 17 years ``Come on Down!'' became household words around the country, even if Rod Roddy's name did not.
The veteran television announcer died Monday at Century City Hospital of colon and breast cancer at age 66.
For nearly two decades his voice was familiar to fans of the venerable television game show ``The Price is Right,'' and Roddy stayed with the CBS program as long as his health permitted, host Bob Barker said Monday.
``The courage he showed during those difficult times was an inspiration to us all,'' Barker said.
The talk show host had reminisced just last week about a recent hospital visit he'd paid Roddy.
``I went to the hospital and sat on the edge of his bed and we laughed the whole time we were talking. He was still having fun,'' Barker recalled.
Roddy had taped his last show two months ago, shortly before entering the hospital.
He had undergone colon cancer surgery two years ago and breast cancer surgery earlier this year.
He had appeared to be keeping the disease at bay with chemotherapy treatments until recently, said his longtime agent, Don Pitts.
His illness had prompted the announcer to become a spokesman for early cancer detection.
``I could have prevented all this with a colonoscopy and, of course, that's the campaign I've been on since I had the first surgery,'' he said in a recent interview that was posted on CBS' Web site.
Breast cancer, although typically associated with women, is diagnosed in about 1,500 American men a year, Roddy said in that interview: ``To everybody out there, 'Get a mammogram!' It can happen to men, too.''
Roddy, whose full name was Robert Ray Roddy, was born Sept. 18, 1937, in Fort Worth, Texas, and was graduated from Texas Christian University before going on to become a popular disc jockey in his home state. He also worked in radio in Florida, Louisiana, Illinois and New York.
He found work in Los Angeles doing commercial voice-overs before breaking into television as the announcer for the popular 1970s show ``Soap.''
His announcing stints included ``Love Connection'' (1981-85) and ``Press Your Luck'' (1983-86), but ``The Price is Right'' earned him his greatest fame. He became known on the program for his booming, jovial voice and flashy attire.
``He was quite a character,'' Barker said. ``He was important to the success of the show. He had the spirit of `The Price Is Right.' It's a fun show.''
A private funeral service will be held in Texas, with a memorial service planned sometime later in Los Angeles.
Information on survivors was not available. Pitts said Roddy, who was single, never talked about his relatives except for his mother, who died several years ago.
=
Associated Press Writers Jeff Wilson and Lynn Elber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
(Copyright © 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)