June 2nd, 1996: Ray Combs, TV host (Family Feud), commits suicide at 40

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Ray Combs' is one of the saddest stories I've ever heard. :rip:

The details of how he died is very sad!

He was also from Hamilton, Ohio, where I was born. ohno:

He did. He was a wonderful host.He wasn't like the Kissing bandit,Richard Dawson.Ray was a wonderful cop,at the jail on Overboard.

I liked Combs a lot; very witty and upbeat. I actually preferred him over Dawson.

What a tragic way to die. I hope he's found his peace in the afterlife.

:rip:

Sad, very sad. You know I wonder if Ray Combs was still alive, I wonder how he would rank as far as the one of the great game show hosts of all time.

What drove Combs to suicide?

Oddly enough, Richard Dawson also died on June 2nd (2012).

Out of all the game show hosts Ray Combs is another host that should've gotten more famous in the game show world. When he was chosen to host Family Feud in 1988 Ray brought a whole new side to the show different than Richard Dawson did. When he became a Comeback Kid when he hosted Family Challenge's first season Ray knew that he still had talent as a game show host. If Ray Combs hadn't died so young he could've still been a huge talent today and I also wonder if Ray would be still alive today what he would think of Steve Harvey hosting Family Feud?
Bestie

Out of all the game show hosts Ray Combs is another host that should've gotten more famous in the game show world. When he was chosen to host Family Feud in 1988 Ray brought a whole new side to the show different than Richard Dawson did. When he became a Comeback Kid when he hosted Family Challenge's first season Ray knew that he still had talent as a game show host. If Ray Combs hadn't died so young he could've still been a huge talent today and I also wonder if Ray would be still alive today what he would think of Steve Harvey hosting Family Feud?
Bestie

I think Ray took the job of hosting “Family Challenge” because he was desperate for money.
Here’s what happened to Ray Combs.
1. Although Combs earned a high salary as FF’s host, he mismanaged his money, squandering a large amount of it on comedy clubs in his native Hamilton, Ohio.
2. He was unceremoniously sacked as FF’s host, which, when combined with his debts, likely caused him great anguish.
3. He was injured in an automobile accident in 1994, which left him in chronic pain.
4. I think the final straw was the collapse of his longtime marriage, from which he had six children. I don’t know if his wife left him or he left her.
So the poor guy cracked after too many setbacks in a short period of time. If only he was in a hospital room that didn’t have any fixtures from which he could hang himself, he may have been able to get the help he needed to put his life back together.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Combs

I think Ray took the job of hosting “Family Challenge” because he was desperate for money.
Here’s what happened to Ray Combs.
1. Although Combs earned a high salary as FF’s host, he mismanaged his money, squandering a large amount of it on comedy clubs in his native Hamilton, Ohio.
2. He was unceremoniously sacked as FF’s host, which, when combined with his debts, likely caused him great anguish.
3. He was injured in an automobile accident in 1994, which left him in chronic pain.
4. I think the final straw was the collapse of his longtime marriage, from which he had six children. I don’t know if his wife left him or he left her.
So the poor guy cracked after too many setbacks in a short period of time. If only he was in a hospital room that didn’t have any fixtures from which he could hang himself, he may have been able to get the help he needed to put his life back together.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Combs

I remember hearing his wife was the one who filed for divorce.

Ed.

I wonder if Ray’s ex ever felt she contributed to his suicide by leaving him when he was at such a low point.

I wonder if Ray’s ex ever felt she contributed to his suicide by leaving him when he was at such a low point.

I don't know I've never heard any more about her or their children. But I'm sure she doesn't feel good about it.

Ed.