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Ray Combs
Ray-combs-1-sized
Name: Raymond Neil "Ray" Combs, Jr.
Born: April 3, 1956
Birth Hometown: Hamilton, Ohio
Died: June 2, 1996 (age 40)
Place of death: Glendale, California
Occupation: Host, comedian, actor
Years active: 1983-1996
Known for: Hosting Family Feud from 1988 to 1994

Raymond Neil "Ray" Combs, Jr. (b. April 3, 1956 – d. June 2, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, and host of the game show Family Feud on CBS and in syndication from 1988 to 1994 (he was later replaced by Richard Dawson in 1994 as a response to increasing ratings). Following the cancellation of Feud, Combs attempted to get back into television with the short-lived Family Challenge on The Family Channel (then Fox Family, later ABC Family, now Freeform) in 1995 (he was then later succeeded by Michael Burger when the show was re-titled as The New Family Challenge in 1996), but his life had already taken a severe downturn including a divorce from his wife, Debbie Combs, a near-fatal car accident, financial problems (including the closing of two comedy clubs he managed in Ohio), and having a severe breakdown at his house, which ultimately led to his suicide in 1996 where he fashioned a noose with his bedsheets and hanged himself in the closet of his hospital room, without leaving a suicide note.

Trivia[]

  • Before Ray Combs hosted Family Feud, he appeared in movies & TV shows from 1985 to 1988. His first ever show he appeared on was The Facts of Life. His role in an episode of that show was The Technician.
  • Ray Combs appeared on The Price is Right (Barker) & Card Sharks (1986) one time to announce that Family Feud is airing on CBS.
  • He died on his wife's birthday.
  • He also died on the same date as his original successor Richard Dawson (who would die 16 years later).

Commemorative Speech[]

“My years of working on Family Feud, as the announcer of the show, were very special to me. I met a lot of wonderful people, a lot of terrific families, and I got to work with the amazingly talented Ray Combs. Ray and I had a lot of fun together at a few tapings. He was one of those rare people, who totally cared about what he was doing. He loved what he was doing. I miss Ray a lot, and on the occasion of Thanksgiving, I realize I am extremely thankful that I was able to know Ray Combs. To work with him, to laugh with him, he was an important part of my life. Ray had a quality that you really had to look hard to see. Behind all the pizzazz and the show business jazz, and the jokes and the laughs, behind all of that, there was a young man, from Cincinnati Ohio, with an enormous heart, filled with love for people, especially children, and love for what he did. It was a pleasure, being around Ray Combs, because he was filled with life, everything he did, was at a hundred and ten percent, his work, and his living. We want to close this special, by showing you some clips of Ray Combs at his best, which was usually when he was hosting Family Feud. I’m Gene Wood, thanks for joining us.” - Gene Wood (on Ray Combs’ tragic passing at the closing of a Game Show Network Family Feud Thanksgiving marathon), November 28, 1996

Shows hosted[]

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June 3, 1996 - Ray Combs death WJW News

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