Rod Roddy, Come on Down!

 

"I could have prevented all this with a colonoscopy, and of course, that's the campaign I've been on since I had the first surgery.  To everybody out there, get a mammogram!  It can happen to men, too."

Robert Ray "Rod" Roddy was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 28, 1937.  From a young age, he had an interest in broadcasting, later honing his craft at Texas Christian University. Upon graduation, he began his career as a disc jockey in Dallas.

At this point in his career, he also hosted his own talk show, a call-in series called Rod Roddy's Hotline.  This blogger is unable to determine the content of the series, but as host, Roddy was often the target of death threats.  He had a long-running feud with a frequent elderly caller, nicknamed "Granny Hate," who claimed to be a member of the Ku Klux Klan.  Attempts to find recordings of this show were unsuccessful.

Roddy got his first big break in 1977, when he was hired to narrate the ABC sit-com Soap (left), replacing broadcasting legend Casey Kasem, who quit the series due to its content.  Confused?  You won't be after watching this.  

From there, Roddy began announcing game shows, something that would define his career.  His first series was called Whew!, which aired for one season in 1979.  Later shows included Battlestars (1981), Hit Man (1983) and Press Your Luck (1983).  In 1983, he also began a three-year run as announcer on Love Connection, with host Chuck Woolery.

In 1985, famed game show announcer Johnny Olson, who had served on The Price is Right (below) for over a decade, passed away.  As producers searched for a replacement, they hired a series of substitute announcers, including Roddy, who was eventually offered the job.  By this point in his career however, Roddy had proven himself a bankable commodity in the industry, so he fought Mark Goodson Productions for big bucks before accepting his signature role.  

For the next 15 years, Roddy had a lot of fun on the series, often appearing in sketches during the showcase showdown (see Trivia below) while creating a fashion sense all his own.  He even surpassed original announcer Johnny Olson, with no plans to retire anytime soon. But unbeknownst to him at this time, his health was in serious jeopardy.  No pun intended.

September 11, 2001, is a date that everyone will remember.  As Americans faced the reality that their nation was under attack, Roddy was facing a personal battle of his own, having been diagnosed with colon cancer.  He took a leave of absence to undergo chemotherapy, returning to the series just one month later.

He was dealt another blow in March 2003, when he was diagnosed with male breast cancer, for which he would undergo a mastectomy.  Upon his recovery, Roddy became a spokesperson for the condition and advocate for early detection (see Quote above).  He'd spend much of 2003 in the hospital however, eventually passing on October 27, just one month after his 66th birthday.

Rod Roddy was buried at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fort Worth, Texas.  His marker carries The Price is Right catchphrase.

Location: Peace Section, Lot #103, Space #7
Inscription #1: World's Greatest Announcer: The Price is Right
Inscription #2: Come on Down

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• When production resumed following Roddy's death, series host Bob Barker announced his passing with this memorial video.
  
  
• Ironically, when Roddy was first starting in television, he attended a taping of The Price is Right in order to watch Johnny Olson.
  
  
• Of all the announcers to have served on the show, Roddy has thus far held the position the longest, at 17 years.
  
  
• During his time on Press Your Luck, Roddy was witness and commentator to the infamous Michael Larson episode.  If you've never seen it, I highly recommend it.  
  
  
• When Roddy first began on The Price is Right, he wore normal business suits.  After receiving encouragement from host Bob Barker however, he began wearing the more flamboyant outfits he was famously known for.
  
  
• During a 1988 episode, Rod appeared as Rodweena, winner of a showcase showdown beauty contest, beating out expected favorite Dian Parkinson.  Curious?  You can watch the sketch on YouTube.  This blogger demands a recount.