Comic Jan Murray has died at his Beverly Hills home. He was 89.
Murray successfully made the transition from night club work to the then-new medium of television.
Murray's quick wit entertained a generation of Americans through a long string of television game shows, including "Songs For Sale," "Dollar a Second" and "Treasure Hunt." He also guest-hosted 'The Tonight Show' about ten times.
Jan Murray was part of a comic rat-pack that included Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, Buddy Hackett, Shecky Greene, and Jerry Lewis. His son said he'd been in deteriorating health for several months, suffering from emphysema, heart problems and pneumonia.
Jan Murray was the creator and producer of his most popular show, "Treasure Hunt," which ran from 1956 to 1959. The game show was canceled in the wake of the scandals that centered on "Twenty One" and "The $64,000 Question." Afterwards, Mr. Murray began a new show, "Charge Account," of which he was host from 1960 to 1962.
GAME SHOWS & TALK SHOWS
"The New Treasure Hunt" (1973) TV Series (creator)
"The Tonight Show" (1962).... Guest Host
"Chain Letter" (1966) TV Series .... Host
"Charge Account" (1960) TV Series .... Host (1960-1962)
... aka The Jan Murray Show
"Treasure Hunt" (1956) TV Series .... Host (1956-1959)"Jan Murray Time" (1955) TV Series .... Host
"Dollar a Second" (1953) TV Series .... Host
"Meet Your Match" (1952) TV Series .... Host
"Go Lucky" (1951) TV Series .... Host
"Songs for Sale" (1950) TV Series .... Host (July 1950-February 1951)
"Sing It Again" (1950) TV Series .... Host
"Blind Date" (1949) TV Series .... Host (1953)
"This Is Your Life"
- Don Rickles (1972) TV Episode .... Himself
"This Is Your Life"
- Milton Berle (1956) TV Episode .... Himself
"It Takes Two"
- Episode dated 23 February 1970 (1970) TV Episode .... Himself
He also made appearances on several variety shows, such as Jackie Gleason's, Dean Martin's, Ed Sullivan's, and 'The Hollywood Palace'.
TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"My Two Dads"
- You Love Me, Right (1989) TV Episode .... Uncle Raymond
"It's a Living"
- The Dickie Doodle Show (1987) TV Episode .... Dickie Doodle
"Hunter"
- Killer in the Halloween Mask (1985) TV Episode .... Bay Fetner
"Hardcastle and McCormick"
- What's So Funny? (1985) TV Episode .... Leo Dikeman
"Legmen"
- Episode #1.6 (1984) TV Episode .... Johnny Booth
"Fantasy Island"
- Forget Me Not/The Quiz Masters (1982) TV Episode .... Ron
"Ellery Queen"
- The Adventure of Caesar's Last Sleep (1976) TV Episode .... Ralph Caesar
"Kolchak: The Night Stalker"
- The Vampire (1974) TV Episode .... Ichabod Grace
"Mannix"
- Shadow Play (1971) TV Episode .... Tony Sargent
"Love, American Style"
- Love and the Happy Couple/Love and the Understanding (1970) TV Episode .... (segment "Love and the Happy Couple")
"The Name of the Game"
- Battle at Gannon's Bridge (1970) TV Episode .... Doc Haller
"Cowboy in Africa"
- African Rodeo: Part 2 (1968) TV Episode .... Trevor Wellington
- African Rodeo: Part 1 (1968) TV Episode .... Trevor Wellington
"The Man from U.N.C.L.E."
- The Hula Doll Affair (1967) TV Episode .... Simon Sweet
"The Lucy Show"
- Lucy and the Soap Opera (1966) TV Episode .... Soap Opera Head Writer
"Burke's Law"
- Who Killed Mother Goose? (1965) TV Episode .... Dr. Abernathy
"Dr. Kildare"
- A Million Dollar Property (1961) TV Episode .... Kenny Hallerton
"Zane Grey Theater"
- The Empty Shell (1961) TV Episode .... Cletis Madden
"On Trial"
- The Jameson Case (1956) TV Episode .... Lindsey
THE LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES
Because he appeared as himself in fictional settings in the following four shows, both sitcoms and dramas (as well as for all of his game show work), Jan Murray will become a member of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame in the League of Themselves division:
"The Fall Guy"
- Scavenger Hunt (1982) TV Episode .... Himself
"The Joey Bishop Show"
- In This Corner, Jan Murray (1964) TV Episode .... Himself
"The Defenders"
- Die Laughing (1964) TV Episode .... Himself
"Car 54, Where Are You?"
- Boom, Boom, Boom (1962) TV Episode .... Himself
TV MOVIES
The Dream Merchants (1980) (TV) .... Murray Tucker
Banjo Hackett: Roamin' Free (1976) (TV) .... Jethro Swain
Roll, Freddy, Roll! (1974) (TV) .... Big Sid Kane
TV SPECIALS
But Seriously, Folks (1986) (TV)
Joys (1976) (TV) .... Jan Murray
... aka Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope in 'Joys'
This special is located in the alternate TV dimension of Earth Not Ready For Prime Time aka Skitlandia, which is just as well since all of the major comedians on the special were "killed off" during the course of it, leaving only the mysterious (but ultimately obvious) murderer to regain control of his own show....
But for the main Toobworld and most of its other alternate versions, we now have lost a very funny man forever......
BCnU...
Tele-Toby
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