Match Game's Gene Rayburn: Wife, net worth, children, TV shows, latest updates
Match Game's Gene Rayburn was more than just a game show host. He was a television icon whose quick wit, quirky charm, and unforgettable microphone made him a household name. Gene was best known for bringing laughter and spontaneity to the classic game show. He left an enduring legacy that continues to influence hosts and comedians today.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Gene Rayburn was a popular American radio and television personality best known for hosting the classic game show Match Game from the 1960s through the 1980s.
- He is known for his quick wit, tall microphone, and playful banter with contestants and celebrity panelists.
- The show's format involved contestants trying to match answers with a panel of celebrities in a fill-in-the-blank style game.
Profile summary
| Full name | Gene Rayburn |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 22 December 1917 |
| Age | 81 years old (at death) |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Place of birth | Christopher, Illinois, United States |
| Date of death | 29 November 1999 |
| Place of death | Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in inches | 6'1" |
| Height in centimetres | 185 |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Father | Milan Rubessa |
| Mother | Mary Hikec Rubessa |
| Siblings | 1 |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Spouse | Helen Ticknor |
| Children | 1 |
| High school | Lindblom Technical High School |
| Profession | Radio and television personality |
| Net worth | $4 million |
Match Game's Gene Rayburn's bio
Gene was born to Croatian immigrant parents on 22 December 1917, as Eugen Jeljenic in Christopher, Illinois, the United States of America. Gene's father perished when he was a toddler, and his mother remarried after relocating to Chicago in 1919.
She married Milan Rubessa, and Gene immediately took his new father's surname. Rayburn has an older brother called Alfred, who died when he was young. Gene had another half-brother, Millan Rubessa Jr., who came into the family after his mother remarried.
Education and early career
Gene attended Lindblom Technical High School and later Knox College. He showed tremendous leadership skills at the learning institution, where he was a senior class president. Gene also displayed great enthusiasm in acting and participated in the plays Robert of Sicily and Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.
After completing his studies, Rayburn became interested in acting and singing in opera. However, after moving to New York City, he was unsuccessful in finding viable employment. Fortunately, he got a page and tour guide job at NBC studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
This opportunity started his long career in the media industry. After working for three years in the same position, Gene was allowed to announce at different radio stations. This announcing gig landed Rayburn back in New York at WNEW.
Another exciting thing about Gene Rayburn is that he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in World War II. He chose the stage name Rayburn from a phone book. He randomly stuck his finger in the book and landed on the name.
Source: Original
Television show host
Rayburn had a successful career in radio and television. Long before becoming a television show host, he was one of the most popular morning drive-time hosts in New York City.
Gene started radio with Jack Lescoulie (Anything Goes) and later with Dee Finch (Rayburn and Finch) on WNEW, now called WBBR. After Rayburn left WNEW, his co-host, Finch, continued the format with another host, Gene Klavan. After leaving the radio show, Gene Rayburn acted in the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie.
Rayburn entered the television niche when he became the original announcer on Steve Allen's Tonight. This allowed him to interact with other industry personalities like Mark Goodson and Bill Todman in 1953.
Gene started hosting Match Game in 1962, bringing his exciting style to the show. Even though the show was cancelled in 1969, Goodson and Todman revived it in 1973, bringing back Rayburn as the host. Gene brought in a new format whereby contestants would attempt to match the responses of six celebrities.
He hosted many other shows, and appeared as a guest in others like:
- Party Line in 1983.
- Break the Bank in 1985 (replaced by Joe Farago after 13 weeks).
- The Movie Masters on AMC cable TV from 1989 to 1990.
His last television appearance was in 1998 when he was featured in an interview with Access Hollywood that coincided with the 25th anniversary of the CBS game show, Match Game.
What was Gene Rayburn's net worth?
According to sources, Gene's net worth at the time of his death was around $4 million. His long career in the media industry, where he worked in radio and television, put him in a great position to win lucrative deals. These earned him immense wealth over time..
Who was Gene Rayburn's wife?
The late actor was married to Helen Ticknor. She died in October 1996 while still married to the television show host. The couple had only one daughter, Lynne, born in 1942.
Many people have been speculating about Brett Somers, another Match Game panellist linked with Gene Rayburn. Gene had only one wife, Helen, while Brett was once married to actor Jack Klugman, but they separated in 1974. However, they never officially divorced.
What was Gene Rayburn's cause of death?
Rayburn died on 29 November 1999 of congestive heart failure. The unfortunate event happened at his daughter's Gloucester, Massachusetts home. He was not buried but cremated, and his ashes were spread over his daughter's garden.
Is anyone from Match Game still alive?
Source: Getty Images
Aside from Gene Rayburn, Match Game had a panel of six celebrities, including a few main and semi-regular ones. Richard Dawson, one of the first on the show, died at the age of 79 of esophageal cancer on 2 June 2012.
Brett Somers also died in 2007 from stomach and colon cancer at the age of 83. Charles Nelson Reilly, another regular, died from pneumonia complications on 25 May 2007. However, Betty White is still going strong at the age of 98.
FAQs
- Why did Gene Rayburn leave Match Game? The show came to an end in 1983. He later hosted the show's segments, which lasted nine months.
- What was Gene Rayburn's salary on Match Game? The exact figures the TV personality made from hosting the game are unknown.
- What was Gene Rayburn and Richard Dawson's relationship? They were co-stars and friends, particularly during the run of Match Game.
- Who was the Match Game host after Gene Rayburn? After Gene, the Match Game hosts were Ross Shafer, followed by Michael Burger. The most recent host was Martin Short, who hosted a prime-time version on ABC that debuted in 2025.
- What happened to Gene Rayburn after the Match Game? He continued to host a few other shows, including a pilot for Party Line and a special on the Drum Corps International finals.
- How long did Gene Rayburn do the Match Game? He hosted the Match Game for 20 years, from 1962 to 1969 and 1973 to 1982.
- What does Gene Rayburn's daughter do? Not much is known about Lynne Rayburn's career, as she has stayed out of the limelight.
- Did Gene Rayburn and Richard Dawson get along on the Match Game? While they had a working relationship initially, their dynamic became strained, with Dawson allegedly feuding with Rayburn before leaving the show.
As a host, Match Game's Gene Rayburn amused audiences for over two decades, becoming famous for the show. Even though he started as a promising actor, he was initially sidetracked, but he made a significant breakthrough in radio and television hosting and is a great legend today.
Are John King and Dana Bash still friends after their divorce? Tuko.co.ke has published an article about CNN's TV host's marriage and their relationship after their divorce. John King and Dana Bash tied the knot in 2008 during a private ceremony in Cape Cod, but separated in March 2012.
The two CNN personalities have maintained a respectful friendship and continue co-parenting their son, Jonah. Today, King works as CNN's chief national correspondent, while Bash serves as the host of Inside Politics and co-anchor of State of the Union.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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