Gene Wood

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Gene Wood in an on-camera appearance as a Match Game panelist

Gene Wood, full name Eugene Edward Wood (October 20, 1925 - May 21, 2004), was an American television personality and television announcer. He was best known as the announcer of over 20 game shows -- most of which were Mark Goodson-Bill Todman productions -- from the late 1960s through the 1990s.

Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, Wood majored in speech and theater in Emerson College. His early career included stand-up comedy, television commercials, and writing for Bob Keeshan of Captain Kangaroo fame. His first role as a game show announcer came as a substitute on Password in 1965. Four years later, he landed a contract working for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions as announcer, where his first full-time announcing job was Beat the Clock in 1969 and hosted that show (replacing Jack Narz) from 1972 until its cancellation in 1974. Wood also hosted the short-lived game show Anything You Can Do, which featured teams of men competing against teams of women in stunts similar to Beat the Clock. Wood hosted the show for the 1971-1972 season before turning the hosting reins over to Don Harron for its final two years.

From July 12, 1976 through June 14, 1985 and again from July 4, 1988 through September 8, 1995, Wood gained popularity as the announcer of Family Feud under two separate hosts, on both ABC and CBS networks. He became noted for his introductions of the two families on that show, culminating with the catchphrase, "On your marks... let's start... the FAMILY FEUUUUD!" More than just an announcer of winning families, and for being both Richard Dawson's and Ray Combs's sidekicks, Wood was also a beloved member of the show. In turn, he also made several on-camera appearances on Feud while exchanging jokes and performing stunts with the hosts (Richard Dawson before Ray Combs) during their opening monologues. He became absent a few times, particularly in July 1991, when Rod Roddy filled in for him, due to his illness, but was soon recovered and came back.

Gene Wood in an on-camera appearance on the finale of Card Sharks.

He was an interim announcer on The Price is Right after the death of Johnny Olson in 1985 and before the selection of Rod Roddy as Olson's successor. Other shows that Wood announced included Card Sharks, (on both the NBC and CBS runs) Password Plus, Double Dare, Tattletales with Bert Convy in the 1970s, the 1985 pilot of Now You See It, Classic Concentration, and the 1990 version of Match Game. Wood also announced on Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak.

In December 1984, Wood also announced on Super Password, with Bert Convy, whom he met while he was announcing Tattletales in the 1970s. He was also a joking part of the cast, as he was a beloved and valued member of the series. Later on, he quietly announced the password to the home audiences, as well. On one memorable episode, Teresa Ganzel's partner incorrectly solved the puzzle of the legendary announcer which made Wood even funnier. Wood also appeared on-camera with Convy, near the end of its run.

The first run of Card Sharks on NBC (from 1978 to 1981, with Jim Perry as host) would provide Wood with one of his unique announcing roles. In addition to providing the usual host intro, commercial plug and closing-credit roles, Wood read the catchy poem that accompanied the opening visuals...often one sent in by viewers. For example: "Shuffle, deal, cut and play / Someone's going to win today / Onnnnn...Card Sharks!" He also made a couple of appearances, most memorably on one episode which Perry took a look at his socks, which set the host off. The second run of Card Sharks on CBS (from 1986 to 1989, with Bob Eubanks as host) had another successful run, in the same length of seasons. Instead of poems sent by viewers, Wood would introduce the car that a contestant could win in addition to the money, at the beginning of the show's, second season. Wood first met Eubanks on the short-lived game show, Trivia Trap, for a few weeks before Bob Hilton was selected as the main announcer of the show. Though he didn't make any cameo appearances unlike the first version, he developed a close relationship with Eubanks and even made practical jokes with the show's host, off the set.

He also replaced Rich Jeffries as the second permanent announcer of Love Connection, between 1986 and 1988.

Wood's last game show was Family Challenge and then announced for Game Show Network in the late 1990s before retiring.

Wood died of cancer in Boston, Massachusetts, at age 78.