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 at 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. Thanks to the show's popularity, during the second season of the Dawson version, Wood would also bring out celebrity teammates, playing in the All-Star Family Feud Specials, a primetime event where teams play for charity. 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. He was also a big fan of the game show, as well. Like Olson, he participated in one showcase skit where he played the role of santa claus. 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, The Better Sex, and the 1990 version of Match Game. Wood also announced on Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak and the syndicated version of Win, Lose or Draw.

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 Young People's Week, the week before the contestant could win the car, in addition to the money, midway throughout 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.

The revamped run of Classic Concentration on NBC (from 1987 to 1991, with Alex Trebek as host) had made Wood a familiar name in game shows, as he made Trebek laugh and even shared the best moments with him, off the set. At the beginnning of the show, Wood announced to audiences. For example, "Behind these numbers / is a puzzle / can you solve it? FA + MILL + E = FAMILY F + EWE + D = FEUD, FAMILY FEUD." In addition, Wood even announced the prizes to winning contestants who correctly solved the puzzle before the contestant had a chance to win the car. Over the years, away from the set, he along with Trebek would sing to the entire audience thinking that he was Pavarotti while Trebek was Mel Torme. During the final season, as a Christmas present, Trebek sent Wood a rocking horse lithograph, with a loving kind note, almost a year, before he took ill that July when Art James subbed for him for the entire month. Before its cancellation, Wood even made one on-camera appearance on the set while he was announcing that it was just a television.

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, also with host Ray Combs, who committed suicide during his run of FC. He was also an announcer for The Game Show Network in the late 1990s before retiring.

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