Roddy Rod of "The Price is Right," dead.

[YellowMaranello]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp..._tv/obit_roddy

LOS ANGELES - Rod Roddy, the flamboyantly dressed announcer on "The Price is Right" whose booming, jovial voice invited lucky audience members to "Come on down!" for nearly 20 years, died Monday. He was 66.



Roddy, who suffered from colon and breast cancer (news - web sites), died at Century City Hospital, according to his longtime agent, Don Pitts. He had been hospitalized for two months.


"He had such a strong spirit. He just wouldn't give up," Pitts said Monday.


Roddy had been ill for more than two years but tried to work as long as he could, said Bob Barker, host of "The Price is Right." Roddy had been with the game show for 17 years.


"The courage he showed during those difficult times was an inspiration to us all," Barker said in a statement Monday.


Barker recounted a recent visit to his friend: "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."


Roddy's announcing stints included "Love Connection" (1981-85) and "Press Your Luck" (1983-86), but "The Price is Right" earned him his greatest fame. "The Price is Right" remains one of television's most popular game shows, and Roddy, with his flashy sport coats and booming voice, was a big part of the success.


"He started wearing those jackets when he joined the show," Barker said. "He was quite a character. He was important to the success of the show. He had the spirit of `The Price Is Right.' It's a fun show. We did it with the hope people will forget their problems for awhile."


Roddy, whose real name was Robert Ray Roddy, was born Sept. 18, 1937, in Fort Worth, Texas, Pitts said.


He was a graduate of Texas Christian University and a popular disc jockey in Texas when he decided to expand his career in Hollywood, his agent recalled.


Roddy's versatility made him a popular voice-over artist for commercials in Los Angeles, Pitts said. He got his big break in television with the 1977-81 satire "Soap."


Disc jockey Casey Kasem, who was the first announcer on the risque series, decided he did not want to stay with it and asked Pitts if he knew someone who could take over.


"I said, 'I've got a guy who's terrific,'" Pitts said. "Rod started with 'Soap' and then his career took off."


Roddy, who taped his last show about two months ago, had colon cancer surgery on Sept. 11, 2001, and his left breast removed last March.


The diseases appeared under control following chemotherapy but flared up again, Pitts said. The two cancers, which Roddy had said were unconnected, prompted him to become a spokesman for early 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 on a CBS Web site.


Breast cancer, although typically associated with women, is diagnosed in about 1,500 American men a year, Roddy said in the CBS interview: "To everybody out there, 'Get a mammogram!' It can happen to men, too."





Roddy was single. The only family member he talked about was his mother, who died several years ago, Pitts said.

Private funeral services will be held in Texas, with a memorial service planned in Los Angeles in several weeks, CBS said.

___

Associated Press writers Jeff Wilson and Lynn Elber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

This was such a great show too...


Not sure if this belonged here or in the current affairs forum, I apologise if it has to be moved.

[Amish_kid]

Damn he wasn't even that old I thought him and Barker were probably both over 80 atleast.

[HogieGT-R]

does this mean that the show is done for?

[TexasF355F1]

Thats so horrible. Price Is Right will never be the same now.

[TheNotoriousMogg]

damn that blows


rest in peace

[dayna240sx]

Originally Posted by HogieGT-R

does this mean that the show is done for?

I dont think he was doing the show for the last couple of years. Last time I watched it there was some other announcer that sucked.

[jon@af]

Originally Posted by dayna240sx

I dont think he was doing the show for the last couple of years. Last time I watched it there was some other announcer that sucked.

Yes indeed, suck he does. Ima miss Rod, he was cool, and I think only he could get away with wearing all those colorful blazers.

[esp]

Originally Posted by dayna240sx

I dont think he was doing the show for the last couple of years. Last time I watched it there was some other announcer that sucked.

this is right from the article:

Roddy, who taped his last show about two months ago

the show will never be the same

[YogsVR4]

Thats to bad. He was a unique voice out there.

[jeffseby]

i just heard on CNN 15 minutes ago, that he had recorded enough shows to keep his voice till mid november. then they will hire someone else.
It is unlucky, CNN said he had Prostate, Colon, and BREAST canser, it dont get any worse than that.
"XXX XXXX, Come On Down....." Won't be the same.

[2of9]

man..that sucks...do u guys kno if there gonna have something to remeber him?? that really sucks..

[blues02TA]

Damn, that does suck. I grew up watching that game show all the time. They should definitely have some kind of tribute to him but I haven't heard anything yet...