J.D. Roth

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J.D. Roth (born April 20, 1968) is an American actor, a former children's game show host, and a producer of reality shows. He hosted the Fox adult reality game show Unan1mous. He's still best-known for hosting the children's reality show Endurance on the Discovery Kids channel and NBC, and is also the announcer and co-creator of the adult reality show The Biggest Loser, on NBC.

[edit] Career

Born and raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Roth first picked up an interest in acting when he was 10. After being a finalist on Star Search, he made numerous guest appearances on Charles in Charge, As the World Turns, The Equalizer and Tales from the Darkside. His first full-time television job was hosting the kids' game show Fun House. During its three-year-run (in syndication and on FOX), he traveled across the country hosting a live version for children.

In 1991, after his Fun House stint, he went on to host the short-lived magazine video game series, GamePro TV. The following year, he became the youngest producer ever to own his own production company, Slam Dunk Productions. He initially produced and hosted the short-lived children's game show Double Up. He emceed several other game shows, including Masters Of The Maze for then-FOX Family for one season, and two of the six seasons of Zooventure, a children's game show taped at the San Diego Zoo and aired on Animal Planet. Zooventure aired in seven countries. Roth also produced a game show version of the word game Mad Libs for the Disney Channel with veteran television personality Dick Clark, who worked with Roth behind-the-scenes.

While hosting Zooventure, he hosted his first adult game show, Sex Wars, in syndication. In 2001, he, along with John Foy and Todd A. Nelson, formed 3Ball Productions. With this team, he produced and hosted his first children's reality show, Moolah Beach, for ABC Family. The show was cancelled after one season; a spinoff of the show entitled Endurance aired on NBC and the Discovery Channel, and would prove to be more successful. Roth, who serves as creator, host, and Executive Producer for this show, was nominated in 2006 for two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series. While not working on Endurance, he serves as narrator on NBC's reality show, The Biggest Loser, which he also co-created and produces. He also produces Breaking Bonaduce, with former child star, Danny Bonaduce, which proves to be another hit reality show for VH1.