Chuck Barris passed away yesterday at the age of 87 from natural causes according to Variety.
Long before there was Star Search, The Voice, American Idol and all those other talent shows, there was The Gong Show. It was created and hosted by Chuck Farris and he brought his own wacky flair to the show. Before he starred in his own game show, he had created The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game. Shows that either still air in syndication to this day or have been or will be rebooted. This summer The Gong Show returns to ABC with Will Arnett as the host.
Besides changing game shows forever, his “autobiographical” book Confessions of a Dangerous Mind became a big screen lauded film with Sam Rockwell starring as him in 2002. In the story, he claimed to be a CIA Assassin, something he later denied. A secret he took to his grave with him.
Today, you can honor him by rewatching that movie or re/discovering The Gong Show, The Dating Game or The Newlywed Game.
