Rod Roddy
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Image:Rod.jpg Rod Roddy (September 28, 1937 – October 27, 2003), born Robert Ray Roddy, was a radio and television announcer, best known for his long tenure as the announcer on the popular game show The Price is Right. Roddy was born in Fort Worth, Texas.
He graduated from Texas Christian University and was a popular disc jockey and talk show host on KLIF and KNUS-FM (Dallas, Texas). His radio program, Hotline, was one of several used by Oliver Stone as a basis for the movie Talk Radio. Rod Roddy led a protest against the United Way, claiming that persons who declined to contribute were fired from their jobs. He also featured guests who were protesting "lemon" cars. He is known for an episode with guest Maria Fletcher, a former Miss America who threw a cup of hot coffee on him during an interview and for his arguments with "Dixie Leber," District Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan.
His long resume included the situation comedy Soap (1977–1981), where he provided the memorable opening and closing narration ("confused? You won't be after this week's episode of Soap!"); also, the game shows Love Connection (1983–1985), Hit Man (1983) and Press Your Luck (1983–1986). It was on the last broadcast of Hit Man where Roddy uttered his famous plug:
- "If you would like to become a contestant on Hit Man, forget it!"
He replaced Johnny Olson as announcer on Price is Right after Olson's death in 1985 and continued until August, 2003. Roddy was known on the show for his excitement and flamboyance. Frequently shown on camera while he announced 'the next contestant on the Price is Right', Roddy often wore impossibly loud outfits, particularly colorful sport jackets.
Roddy was diagnosed with colon and breast cancer in 2001. The diagnosis led Roddy to become a spokesperson for early detection of cancer. Roddy: "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."
While ill with his cancer for over two years, Rod Roddy continued to do announcing for The Price Is Right as long as he could, right up to his last hospitalization two months before his death at the age of 66. As late as October 23, the CBS Early Show was inviting its viewers to send get well cards to Rod. Roddy also appeared on Hollywood Squares as guest announcer during their "Game Show Week."
Roddy's close friend, Bob Barker, dedicated an entire episode of The Price Is Right to the memory of him shortly after his death.
Roddy's voice can still be heard on reruns of the Toon Disney cartoon series Disney's House of Mouse, as the voice of Mike, the talking microphone that introduces each show. His voice also lives on in the popular Price Is Right video slot machines in casinos throughout America as well as in segments Price Is Right DVD game.
{{sequence
| list = The Price is Right announcer
1986–2003 | prev = Johnny Olson
1972–1985 | next = Rich Fields
2004–present
}}