JUNE 9, 1981


One of the worst game show tragedies in history occurred: the untimely death of famed Password emcee Allen Ludden, at the age of 61.

Ludden was enjoying a spectacular comeback to NBC's Password+Plus, following a 4-week leave of absence to have surgery done on him for stomach cancer (Bill Cullen emceed in Ludden's stead), when suddenly, a massive stroke in October 1980 forced him off the show for good. Tom Kennedy suceeded him for the rest of Password+Plus' run. On the series' finale on March 26, 1982, Tom said a few kind words about Allen: "This is the last in our series of Password+Plus. Even though our dear friend Allen Ludden is not with us at this particular moment, as you well know he hosted this show as only as he could do for something like 18 years. I was very proud to have the last year and a half here at the helm. All I can say is you know the show is going to be back soon. . . ."

Ludden left behind a lovely, doting wife, Betty White, and 3 children from a first marriage. Aside from his work on Password, Ludden enceed the 1975-77 syndicated edition of Liars' Club, the ill-fated 1977 NBC game Stumpers, and, of course, his pre-Password game, the '50s favourite, GE College Bowl.

The charm, wit, friendliness, and neighbourly demeanor which had become Allen Ludden's trademark through out all of his shows would not soon be forgotten.

And it still isn't.


ALLEN LUDDEN
(1919-1981)

Originally posted by AaronHandy3
JUNE 9, 1981


One of the worst game show tragedies in history occurred: the untimely death of famed Password emcee Allen Ludden, at the age of 61.

Ludden was enjoying a spectacular comeback to NBC's Password+Plus, following a 4-week leave of absence to have surgery done on him for stomach cancer (Bill Cullen emceed in Ludden's stead), when suddenly, a massive stroke in October 1980 forced him off the show for good. Tom Kennedy suceeded him for the rest of Password+Plus' run. On the series' finale on March 26, 1982, Tom said a few kind words about Allen: "This is the last in our series of Password+Plus. Even though our dear friend Allen Ludden is not with us at this particular moment, as you well know he hosted this show as only as he could do for something like 18 years. I was very proud to have the last year and a half here at the helm. All I can say is you know the show is going to be back soon. . . ."

Ludden left behind a lovely, doting wife, Betty White, and 3 children from a first marriage. Aside from his work on Password, Ludden enceed the 1975-77 syndicated edition of Liars' Club, the ill-fated 1977 NBC game Stumpers, and, of course, his pre-Password game, the '50s favourite, GE College Bowl.

The charm, wit, friendliness, and neighbourly demeanor which had become Allen Ludden's trademark through out all of his shows would not soon be forgotten.

And it still isn't.


ALLEN LUDDEN
(1919-1981)

It was indeed a sad day in game show history. It was amazing that knowing he had a short time to live after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer that he came back to the show. Him and Betty even made an appearance on Love Boat when he was ill. You can tell on that show that he was quite ill because he aged radically after he got ill.

Tom Kennedy did a great job, under the sad circumstances, of Password Plus but it was never the same after Allen got to where he could not do the show any longer. Allen was quite excited on the first episode of Password Plus. He was a class act. I met Allen Ludden in person at a fundraiser in Pittsburg in the mid-70s and he was quite a gentleman and friendly.

Today is Allen Ludden's Memorial Day.:lol: I love "Password" and I always love Betty White's husband, Allen Ludden. Sadly he died in 1981. I remember "Password" and Allen since I was a little boy.

http://www.bobbydarin.net/pwbdal.jpg

As you may know, Tom Kennedy took over Allen's place on "Password Plus" after his death. Tom continued his show until his final season in 1982.

Allen Ludden was definitely the best game show host of all time. He presided over two of the most literate shows in TV history GE College Bowl and Password. He brought class, charm, style and enthusiasm to the game show industry and to quote a passage from Betty white's autobiography Here we Go Again "He was the perfect host in every sense of the word."