March 22 (UPI) — Chuck Barris, the host and creator of The Gong Show along with a number of other game shows, has died at the age of 87.
Barris died Monday of natural causes in his home in Palisades, New York according to a representive of his wife, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The game show creator, producer and writer formed Chuck Barris productions in 1965 when he created The Daring Game hosted by Jim Lange. He also launched The Newlywed Game in 1966 hosted by Bob Eubanks before taking over hosting duties himself with The Gong Show which released in 1976.
The Gong Show famously featured celebrity judges such as David Letterman and Jaye P. Morgan. The program was so popular a feature film was created which failed to attract any attention.
Other shows he created include Your Hit Parade, Three’s a Crowd, Camoflage and Treasure Hunt.
Barris is also known as a songwriter penning songs such as “Palisades Park” and for writing an autobiography titled Confessions of a Dangerous Mind in which he falsely claimed to have worked for the CIA as an assassin
The book was made into a film directed by George Clooney and starring Sam Rockwell in 2002.
Barris is survived by his wife, Mary Clagett.