15 Years Ago: 'Family Feud' Host Ray Combs Ended His Own Life Way Too Young - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-01-2011, 12:30 AM

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

catlover79 · 06-01-2011, 01:22 AM

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

The Great One · 06-01-2011, 04:19 PM

The details of how he died is very sad!

James · 06-02-2011, 03:30 AM

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

angiefan · 06-21-2011, 05:31 PM

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.

Retro4Life · 06-21-2011, 06:15 PM

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.

mets82 · 06-23-2011, 11:08 PM

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.

Schmo · 03-10-2020, 08:10 PM

What drove Combs to suicide?

Zoneboy · 03-10-2020, 10:07 PM

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

Hawkee · 03-11-2020, 02:56 AM

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

Schmo · 03-11-2020, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaBestia

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

Edward216 · 03-11-2020, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmo

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.

Schmo · 03-13-2020, 11:48 AM

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

Edward216 · 03-14-2020, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmo

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.

06-01-2011, 12:30 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	15 Years Ago: 'Family Feud' Host Ray Combs Ended His Own Life Way Too Young June 2nd, 1996: Ray Combs, TV host (Family Feud), commits suicide at 40
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06-01-2011, 01:22 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Ray Combs' is one of the saddest stories I've ever heard.
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06-01-2011, 04:19 PM	#3
The Great One Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 6,378	The details of how he died is very sad!
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06-21-2011, 05:31 PM	#5
angiefan happy labor day! Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 15, 2006 Location: grand blanc,michigan Posts: 618	15 years ago: Family Fued Host Ray Combs Ends his own life. 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.

06-21-2011, 06:15 PM	#6
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	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.
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06-02-2011, 03:30 AM	#4
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	He was also from Hamilton, Ohio, where I was born.

06-23-2011, 11:08 PM	#7
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	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.

03-10-2020, 08:10 PM	#8
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	What drove Combs to suicide?

03-10-2020, 10:07 PM	#9
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,346	Oddly enough, Richard Dawson also died on June 2nd (2012).

03-11-2020, 02:56 AM	#10
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,758	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
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03-13-2020, 11:48 AM	#13
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	I wonder if Ray’s ex ever felt she contributed to his suicide by leaving him when he was at such a low point.