Jim Lange, Host of "The Dating Game", Dies at 81

[Bluebonnet]

'Dating Game' Host Jim Lange Dies at 81

By Suzy Byrne 20 minutes ago Yahoo TV

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The Dating Game host Jim Lange has died. (Everett Collection)

Jim Lange, who played matchmaker to many as the original host of "The Dating Game," has died.His wife, Nancy Fleming, told The Associated Press that he passed away Tuesday after suffering a heart attack at his Mill Valley, California, home. He was 81.
Lange started out in radio, then made the jump to TV as the announcer and sidekick to Tennessee Ernie Ford on "The Ford Show" in 1962.
However, he'll best be remembered as host of "The Date Game," which debuted in 1965. The game show format had a bachelorette or bachelor asking a series of questions to three potential love interests, who were out view, to find the best match. Based on their responses, a suitor would be picked and then the twosome would go on a date paid for by the show.
Occasionally, there were celebrity guests on the show as well, including Michael Jackson, Steve Martin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and "Brady Bunch's" Maureen McCormick and Barry Williams.
Several stars, including Farrah Fawcett, Suzanne Somers, and John Ritter, appeared as contestants before becoming famous. The late Ritter was especially funny — a drama student at the time, he mugged for the camera in a very Jack Tripper way. Fawcett was "a former beauty title holder" and aspiring artist, who "hoped to own her own gallery."

Lange, who had a smooth voice, was known for being professional and moving the show along, but he also showed his humorous side, lobbing jokes — especially ones about love and dating — throughout each episode. He remained as host until 1980.
Lange, who was a Minnesota native, went on to host other game shows including "$100,000 Name That Tune," "Bullseye," and "The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime."
He also made appearances as himself on shows including "Bewitched," where he played the host of the fictional TV show "Sweetheart Parade," and "Laverne & Shirley" in an episode during which the girls auditioned for the show... and Lenny and Squiggy ended up as the contestants.

For four decades, Lange also worked as a disc jockey in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
He is survived by his second wife, a former Miss America whom he married in 1978, a sister, five children, two stepchildren, and four grandchildren.

'Dating Game' Host Jim Lange Dies at 81 | Yahoo TV - Yahoo TV

[Bluebonnet]

Farrah Fawcett on The Dating Game:

[Bluebonnet]

John Ritter:

[Bluebonnet]

And of course, Ugly Wanda on The Dating Game (from In Living Color).

[gas_chick]

Damn another one bites the dust. RIP.

[MohandasKGanja]

Hey, how about Karen Carpenter? I know that she wasn't a raving beauty but I love her. And boy did she get the pick of the litter with the bachelor contestants. Especially, check out Bachelor #1's responses....

[Bluebonnet]

Remember how they would all stand by each other at the end of the show and blow a big kiss to the camera?

Lord, I'm old.

[MohandasKGanja]

Remember how they would all stand by each other at the end of the show and blow a big kiss to the camera?

That was the FIRST thing I thought about when I read this. By the way, check out Andy Kaufman's appearance on the show. It's awesome:

[Seth82]

a young Michael Jackson was even on this show.

[Seth82]

Greg Brady also appeared on the show.

[MohandasKGanja]

And Pee Wee Herman. By the way, this is from 1979, before anyone had hear of him, so you can imagine what everyone's reaction was. His answer to his question is hilarious:

[ADel]

Oh, damn. This one makes me really sad.

[whitetigeress]

Hair was so shiny in the 70's lol
That was such a great show !

Another one passed?! Sheesh, was there not enough entertainment up in heaven that they had to start plucking em like crazy from here?
It seems that way lately