Chuck Barris

**Charles Hirsch Barris** (June 3, 1929 - March 21, 2017) was an American game show creator, producer, and host. He was best known as the creator of many popular television game shows. Some of his most famous shows were _The Dating Game_, _The Newlywed Game_ and _The Gong Show_. These shows appeared on American television from the mid-1960s until the early 1980s.

## Early life

Barris was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied at Drexel University.

## Early career

Early in his career, Barris tried songwriting. One of his songs, "Palisades Park", was a hit record for Freddy Cannon, a popular singer.

Barris got his start in television as a page and later staffer at NBC in New York, and eventually worked backstage at the TV music show _American Bandstand_.

Barris was promoted to the daytime programming division at ABC in Los Angeles and was put in charge of deciding which game shows ABC would air. Before long, Barris admitted to his bosses that he disliked all the shows he was given to choose from, and believed he could make better ones. They suggested that he quit his programming job and become a show producer himself.

## Game Show Career

Barris first became successful during 1965 with his first game show creation _The Dating Game_ on ABC.  The next year Barris began _The Newlywed Game_.

He went on to create several other short-lived games for ABC in the 1960s and for syndication in the 1970s, all of which revolved around a common theme: the game play normally derived its interest (and oftentimes, humor) from the excitement, vulnerability, embarrassment, or anger of female contestants or participants in the game.

Barris became a public figure in a big way in 1976, when he produced - and served as the host of the talent contest spoof _The Gong Show_, which he packaged in partnership with TV producer Chris Bearde. The show's cult stature far outstripped the two years it spent on NBC (1976-78) and the four years it ran in syndication (1976-1980).

## Later years

After _The Gong Show_ went off the air, Barris kept a lower profile (did not attract as much attention), but still worked in television. In the 1980s, he published a memoir, _Confessions of a Dangerous Mind_. Barris claimed in the book to have been a CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) agent and assassin, who regretted his earlier life. He also regretted making "puerile" (childish) television shows, that catered to poor taste. It was republished in the 1990s.

Many people believe _Confessions_ does not tell a true story. Others are not sure if it is fact or fiction. Some, including celebrities who knew Barris, do not know or care, and enjoy his stories as entertainment. The CIA itself denies Barris ever worked for them.

George Clooney made _Confessions_ into a movie, starring Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts.

## Personal life

Barris was married to Lyn Levy from 1957 until they divorced in 1976. He later married Robin Altman from 1980 until they divorced in 1999. He later married Mary Rudolph in 2000. Barris had one child with Levy.

## Death

Barris died on March 21, 2017 of natural causes at his home in Palisades, New York at the age of 87.

## Other websites

- "Was Chuck Barris a hit man for the CIA?"  from _The Straight Dope_
- Chuck Barris page on MySpace

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Chuck Barris
- **image**: The Gong Show Chuck Barris 1976.jpg
- **caption**: Barris on _The Gong Show_ in 1976
- **birth name**: Charles Hirsch Barris
- **birth place**: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- **death place**: Palisades, New York, U.S.
- **alma mater**: Drexel University, Drexel Institute of Technology
- **notable works**: _The Gong Show_,
_The Dating Game_,
_The Newlywed Game_,
"Palisades Park (Freddy Cannon song), Palisades Park",
_Confessions of a Dangerous Mind_
- **occupation**: TV producer, TV host, songwriter, author
- **spouse**: Lyn Levy (1957–1976; divorced; 1 child)
Robin Altman (1980–1999; divorced)
Mary Rudolph (2000—2017; his death)