Game Show host, comedian, and actor Jan Murray has died at the age of 89.
Murray got his start on television in its early days hosting the 1950’s game show “Treasure Hunt,” and brought his unique style of comedic timing to the game show genre that has been copied down to this very day by just about every successful host from Pat Sajac to Richard Dawson down to today’s Howie Mandel.
Born Murray Janofsky in New York in 1916, Murray was inspired to become a performer when he memorized vaudeville acts to repeat at home for his sick mother. He continued to develop his timing skills to the point where he became a regular attraction at the Catskills resorts in New York and the Poconos in Eastern Pennsylvania.
What surprised many however, was when Murray put on his acting hat. He starred in dozens of films and TV shows equally comfortable wearing both the dramatic and comedic face.
Some of his most notable genre TV appearances were on “Fantasy Island,” “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” with the late Darren McGavin.
Murray is survived by his wife Toni, sons Howard and Warren; daughters, Diane and Celia; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
All I can say and I guess most of our age can say is…
Goodbye Jan and thank you…
Old age is a fact of life and my how it comes to us so fast…
Jan was great to work for. I was his hostess on Dollar A Second and his Pirate Girl on Treasure Hunt. I admired him greatly. In all those shows and during all those years I never saw him lose his cool! He treated everyone with respect and great good humor. Jan was a gentleman.
All best to the beautiful Toni who was always by his side.
Toni, remember when Jan would spend a special time in his dressing room with the door closed for a few minutes before air time? We didn’t know until you told us one day that he needed that time undisturbed because he always did his special exercise before doing each show. What was he devoted to doing? Standing on his head!
God bless,
Pat White