Gone Far Too Young: Larry Blyden, age 49, & Bert Convy, age 57 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

biffbronson · 03-22-2026, 07:11 AM

Larry Blyden and Bert Convy both had potentially long careers ahead of them as game show hosts, with their lives sadly cut short. Which games do you think would have suited them later in their careers? How about other hosts who died young, like Ray Combs gone at age 40?

howilu · 03-23-2026, 09:56 AM

In 2006, Peter Tomarken, best known for hosting Press Your Luck, died in a plane crash at the age of 63.

cd637299 · 03-23-2026, 03:26 PM

I had read that Blyden was the original pick to host “Showoffs” on ABC for Goodson-Todman when he had the horrible fatal car crash in Morocco, dying at 49. It turned out that Bobby Van was picked to replace him, and not much later, Van, also at 49, well…you guessed it.

(I think that Showoffs was already canceled by then.)

Another one who passed before age 50 and hosted at least three game shows, was Bill Leyden. He had a promising career. I kinda maintain whether “It Could Be You” could really be considered a game show or not, it’s iffy.

cd

howilu · 03-24-2026, 09:56 AM

Bill Leyden hosted two short-lived game shows in the 1960s. The first was one of the few flops from Goodson-Todman, Call My Bluff that ran from March to September of 1965. He also hosted the first 13 weeks of the Bob Stewart produced game show You're Putting Me On in 1969 before he stepped down due to health problems that would result in his passing in January 1970. Larry Blyden would take over the hosting duties but the show was canceled in December 1969.

03-22-2026, 07:11 AM	#1
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,338	Gone Far Too Young: Larry Blyden, age 49, & Bert Convy, age 57 Larry Blyden and Bert Convy both had potentially long careers ahead of them as game show hosts, with their lives sadly cut short. Which games do you think would have suited them later in their careers? How about other hosts who died young, like Ray Combs gone at age 40?

03-23-2026, 09:56 AM	#2
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	In 2006, Peter Tomarken, best known for hosting Press Your Luck, died in a plane crash at the age of 63.

03-23-2026, 03:26 PM	#3
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 845	I had read that Blyden was the original pick to host “Showoffs” on ABC for Goodson-Todman when he had the horrible fatal car crash in Morocco, dying at 49. It turned out that Bobby Van was picked to replace him, and not much later, Van, also at 49, well…you guessed it. (I think that Showoffs was already canceled by then.) Another one who passed before age 50 and hosted at least three game shows, was Bill Leyden. He had a promising career. I kinda maintain whether “It Could Be You” could really be considered a game show or not, it’s iffy. cd

03-24-2026, 09:56 AM	#4
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	Bill Leyden hosted two short-lived game shows in the 1960s. The first was one of the few flops from Goodson-Todman, Call My Bluff that ran from March to September of 1965. He also hosted the first 13 weeks of the Bob Stewart produced game show You're Putting Me On in 1969 before he stepped down due to health problems that would result in his passing in January 1970. Larry Blyden would take over the hosting duties but the show was canceled in December 1969.