Tom Kennedy

Infobox actor television
name = Tom Kennedy

|250px|Tom on Password Plus in 1982
birthname = James Narz
birthdate = birth date and age|1927|02|26
birthplace = Louisville, Kentucky, USA
occupation = Retired TV Presenter and Game Show Host (1958-1987)
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gender = Male
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family =
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credits = "Password Plus"
"The Price Is Right"
"Wordplay"
"Body Language"
"Whew!"
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Tom Kennedy (born James Narz on February 26, 1927, in Louisville, Kentucky) is a television game show host who had his greatest fame in the 1960s and 1970s. He is the younger brother of host Jack Narz and the brother-in-law of Bill Cullen, and changed his name to avoid confusion prior to hosting his first national show, "The Big Game", in 1958.

Before Kennedy got his start in hosting game shows, he was once an elevator operator and a stand-up comedian.

hows

His biggest hit series were "You Don't Say!", which aired on NBC from 1963 to 1969 and on ABC in 1975; "Split Second", on ABC from 1972 to 1975; "Name That Tune", which he hosted from 1974 to 1981; and "Password Plus", which he hosted from 1980 to 1982 following the illness (and later death) of original host Allen Ludden due to stomach cancer. Other hosting credits include "Doctor I.Q.", "Break the Bank", "To Say the Least", "Body Language", "50 Grand Slam", "Whew!", "It's Your Bet", "Wordplay" and a syndicated nighttime version of "The Price Is Right" in 1985.

He also briefly hosted a talk show, "The Tom Kennedy Show", in the early 1970s and appeared as a panelist on "To Tell the Truth".

In addition, he made guest appearances, as an actor, on such shows as "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir", "The Fall Guy" and "Hardcastle and McCormick".

Retirement

Now retired, Kennedy appeared as a panelist on "Hollywood Squares" during "Game Show Week Part 2" in 2003.

Awards

In 2005, he and his brother, Jack Narz, were co-recipients of the Game Show Congress' Bill Cullen Award for Lifetime Achievement.

In May 2007, both Kennedy and Narz were presented the Diamond Circle Award of the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters at a celebrity luncheon honoring Leonard Maltin.

ee also

*List of Louisvillians

External links

*imdb|id=0448368