![](/uploads/1/2/7/2/127226973/608069488.jpg)
GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) Ray Combs, a comedian who followed Richard Dawson as host of the game show ``Family Feud,″ committed. After his nine-year inaugural run as host, Dawson returned for one more season in 1994. Ray Combs (1988–94). Executive Producers: Howard.
Contents.Career Combs began performing comedy at 's Red Dog Saloon, where he developed his best-known of audience sing-alongs of theme songs. In 1979, Combs sent a letter to, asking for advice; Letterman encouraged him to continue in comedy. In 1982, convinced that he was better than others he saw appear on, Combs left his job as an furniture salesman, and moved with his family to. He did well in a competition with more than 200 other young comedians, and began doing audience warm-ups for sitcoms such as. He became so popular, that other sitcoms changed their production schedules just so they could have him warm up their audiences.
Heard the audience's laughter and then invited Combs to perform on The Tonight Show in October 1986; the audience gave him a standing ovation.In 1985, he appeared on an episode of as a background character. Around this time, he also guest starred on an episode of. In 1987, he appeared as a celebrity panelist on the version of, and had a small role in the comedy film starring and.Family Feud In 1988, game show producers and gave Combs a seven-year contract to host a new version of. The program premiered on, 1988 on 's daytime lineup, and a version was launched two months later, on September 19. According to Feud announcer, Combs also toured extensively around the United States to promote the show, and made guest appearances on as well as to discuss the new version of Family Feud.On June 29, 1992, CBS expanded the daytime show from 30 minutes to one hour.
A new 'Bullseye' round was added and the show was re-titled Family Feud Challenge. On September 14, 1992, the Bullseye round was integrated into the syndicated run, which remained 30 minutes in length but was renamed as The New Family Feud. Combs was one of the most seen MCs on television during the 1992–93 season, with an hour and a half of Family Feud airing five days a week.Midway through the 1992–93 season, ratings for the show began to plummet.
CBS canceled the daytime version in early 1993, with the final new episode airing March 26 (reruns aired through September 10), as many CBS affiliates had dropped the show entirely by that time. The syndicated version was also on the verge of cancellation (as many stations had also dropped that or moved it into overnight time slots)., who had become chairman of Mark Goodson Productions after the death of his father, Mark Goodson in 1992, decided to replace Combs with original host in the hopes of spiking ratings (Dawson's return season initially drew good ratings, but was unable to sustain this strength long-term, and Family Feud's second incarnation ended after the 1994–95 season). By all accounts, Combs was hurt by his dismissal from the show.His final episode of Family Feud was taped sometime in February 1994, and aired in first-run syndication on May 27 of that year. While that episode seemed like any other, during his final 'Fast Money' bonus round, the five answers given by the second contestant each netted zero points. Combs joked, 'You know, I've done this show for six years and this is the first time I had a person that actually got no points and I think it's a damn fine way to go out. Thought I was a loser until you walked up here, you made me feel like a man!'
After signing off, with ending credits rolling, Combs immediately walked off the set, went to his dressing room to get changed, left the facility without saying good-bye to anyone, got into his car, and drove home. Other appearances Combs also made an appearance for the as a guest ring announcer at, where he amused the capacity crowd at Indianapolis' by lashing into the team of, and with various scathing insults before being ultimately chased out of the ring. He later served as a guest commentator alongside and at in a match between the Hart Family against and his Knights.In addition to these two appearances, there were various WWF/ celebrity editions of Family Feud; Heenan and Combs also struck up a friendship, which Heenan recounted in his autobiography, noting that he believed Combs felt demeaned by being a game show host.Combs portrayed himself in episodes of and in Family Feud sketches and made an appearance on the television series The Statler Brothers Show, where he did a stand-up comedy routine. In October 1993, a Family Feud video game featuring Combs's likeness was released for the.Personal life Combs was born in on April 3, 1956. He graduated in 1974 from, where he was an actor, senior class president, and delegate. He declined a nomination to the and served as a for two years in.In July 1994, Combs suffered an injury in one of his in a car accident, which left him in severe and continuous pain. He also went through financial problems after two of his comedy clubs failed, and his home in Hamilton, Ohio, went into.
In September 1995, Combs and Debbie, his wife of 18 years (with whom he had six children), separated. The couple reconciled, but later refiled for divorce.Combs made several attempts to resurrect his television career, including taping a pilot for a called The Ray Combs Show, which ultimately was not picked up. He hosted from 1995–96 on, and made a number of appearances on the.Death On June 1, 1996, police were called to Combs' home at 1318 Sonora Avenue in over reports of a disturbance.
Combs had reportedly destroyed most of the inside of his house, and had also been against the walls, though Combs later told the police that he fell in the. Shortly after police arrived, Combs' estranged wife Debbie arrived and informed them that Combs was suicidal, and had spent the previous week in the hospital for a. He was taken by police to where he was assessed by a medical doctor and placed on a 72-hour psychiatric observation hold. On June 2, 1996, at around 4:10 A.M., hospital personnel discovered Combs in the closet of his room with bed sheets.
They took Combs to the emergency room, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. His death was ruled a suicide.On June 7, 1996, Combs' funeral was held at in Glendale. His remains were flown back to his hometown of Hamilton, Ohio, where he was interred at the. Combs was survived by his parents, Ray, Sr. And Anita Jean Combs; his wife; and their six children.Combs was deeply in debt at the time of his death; only after his suicide did his widow, Debbie, learn of his desperate financial difficulties. At the height of his career, he earned close to $1 million per year, but reportedly had trouble managing his money. In addition to his two failed comedy clubs in Hamilton, Combs owed $100,000 in back taxes and $150,000 in loans and credit cards, and also had a $470,000 mortgage.
The bank foreclosed on the family's Glendale home, and Debbie was forced to sell some of her husband's autographed photos and celebrity caricatures. A benefit held at the in Hollywood netted $10,000 for the family. Johnny Carson, who had given Combs his first break in show business, sent Debbie a check for $25,000, writing to her: 'I hope this will ease the burden'. Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1985TechnicianEpisode: 'Doo-Wah'1986Various roles3 episodes1987Bob HendersonEpisode: 'And Then There Was One'1987Cop at Hospital1988Harold Buckner2 episodes1988HimselfEpisode: 'And the Survey Says.' 1988–1994Host1992Himself1992HimselfEpisode: 'Hey Now'1993HimselfEpisode: 'Forever Silky'1993Himself1995Game show hostAlternative title: Wes Craven's Vampire in Brooklyn1995–1996HostReferences.
Baber, David (August 11, 2009). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. P. 39.
^ Armstrong, Coleen (February 1988). Retrieved November 28, 2011.
^. June 17, 1996. Ray Combs. True Hollywood Story.
November 16, 1997., October 5, 2011, retrieved October 3, 2011., July 28, 2002. Heenan, Bobby; Anderson, Steve (2004). Triumph Books. Pp. 137–138.
Condon, Lee (June 4, 1996). Retrieved May 17, 2010. June 8, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2013. June 3, 1996. Retrieved January 15, 2013. Mitchell, Emily; Baker, Ken (October 7, 1996).
46 (15).External links.
Television personality and host Steve Harvey Bryan Steffy/Getty Images What was Steve Harvey’s childhood like?He was born Broderick Stephen Harvey on January 17, 1957, to a coal miner father in Welch, West Virginia. Later, his family moved to Cleveland, and the street he grew up on was renamed Steve Harvey Way in 2015.Steve Harvey dropped out of college after three years and then tried out a variety of different careers, including a boxer, an insurance salesman, a carpet cleaner, an automaker, and a mailman. His first comedy gig was in Cleveland, but it’s not like his career took off overnight.
In fact, Harvey was for a few years during the late 1980s. He survived by sleeping in his car and showering at gas stations or swimming pools.
His career gets a big breakHarvey went from struggling no-name comedian to a household name thanks in part to the celebrity status he achieved hosting Showtime at the Apollo from 1992 to 2000. This work launched him into a bevy of different roles in the entertainment industry, including Family Feud for five seasons and also hosting the Miss Universe Pageant.Who could forget the time Harvey announced the wrong winner during the Miss Universe awards in 2015? Harvey is more than just a hostSteve Harvey’s talents go far beyond just hosting shows, however. He also wrote a book called Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, which was made into a romantic comedy that was simply called Think Like a Man.
He authored the book, “Jump: Take a Leap of Faith to Achieve Your Life Abundance,” which explains exactly how Harvey made his millions. Steve Harvey Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Neighborhood Awards How much money does Steve Harvey have?Thanks to some by a now-deceased tax accountant, Steve Harvey wound up owing the IRS $25 million in 2008. But he paid on his debts and still has an impressive net worth. He’s not the richest television host (that honor goes to Judge Judy), but he’s at least in the. His annual salary for television hosting is a comfortable $44 million, and his overall net worth is $120 million. What is Steve Harvey up to now?Harvey is still hosting multiple shows and is a staple of daytime television. He also participated in the revival of the classic Showtime at the Apollo.
![Hosts Hosts](/uploads/1/2/7/2/127226973/693329177.jpg)
In 2017, Steve Harvey hosted Fox’s New Year’s Eve special and even got ordained in time to perform a wedding on camera during the special. It was one of the most-watched New Year’s Eve events of all time. He hosted again in 2018 and is slated to host the event for 2019.Steve Harvey is no stranger to controversy. He received criticism for talking negatively about Barack Obama and for supporting Donald Trump.
He’s also made comments about atheists, Asian men, and the Flint water crisis that raised a few eyebrows.But even with these controversial statements, Harvey is one of the most beloved comedians on television today, with a reputation for making just about anyone laugh.
![](/uploads/1/2/7/2/127226973/608069488.jpg)