Robert Ray "Rod" Roddy (September 28, 1937 – October 27, 2003) was an American radio and television announcer. He is primarily known for his role as an offstage announcer on game shows. Among the shows that he announced are the CBS game shows Whew! and Press Your Luck. He is widely recognized by the signature line, "Come on down!" from The Price Is Right, and it appears on his grave marker, although the phrase was originated and made popular by his predecessor Johnny Olson. Roddy succeeded original announcer Johnny Olson on The Price is Right and held the role from 1986 until his death in 2003. On many episodes of Press Your Luck and The Price is Right, Roddy appeared on camera. Roddy was also the voice of Mike the microphone on Disney's House of Mouse from 2001 to 2003.
Disney's House of Mouse, Press Your Luck, Trivia Trap, Hit Man, Soap, The Price Is Right, Pyramid
Star Sign
Libra
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Trademark
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Sign off: "This is Rooooooooooooood Roddy"
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"Come on Down!" - his catchphrase on The Price is Right
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Sequin Suits
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Quote
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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.
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Fact
1
In 1988, Rod came out in full drag as Rodweena during a showcase skit on The Price Is Right (1972).
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Initially wore regular suits when he started announcing on The Price Is Right (1972), but with the encouragement of Bob Barker, he began wearing his flamboyant sequin suits on camera.
3
Rod was good friends with KLIF owner and radio icon Gordon McLendon. Rod also became very good friends with McLendon's wife, Susan Stafford, and after training in the ministry many years ago, she presided at Rod's memorial service in Texas.
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When he was just getting his start in television, Rod came to a taping of The Price Is Right (1972) and sat in the audience to watch Johnny Olson.
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Worked with game show host Peter Tomarken twice: "Hit Man" on NBC (1983) and "Press Your Luck" on CBS (1983-1986).
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After CBS programming executive Barbara Hunter suggested Rod Roddy as a possible replacement for Johnny Olson on The Price Is Right (1972), Rod was given the shortest amount of on air audition episodes before the job was offered to him. Rod did not accept the salary offered and had his attorney negotiate for a deal that was beyond what was budgeted for the job. Rod and his attorney stood firm while Mark Goodson Productions briefly resumed the search. In 1986, CBS and Goodson ponied up for what became a very lucrative deal after several renewals. Rod remained on the job for a record 17 years until his passing in 2003.
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Official ambassador of Chaing Mai, Thailand.
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Had his left breast removed due to cancer in March 2003.
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Had colon cancer surgery in 2001.
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Was a DJ at Buffalo's 50,000 powerhouse WKBW 1520 AM from 1963 to 1968. According to current KB DJs, his sense of dress was at least equally as notable then as it was during his career on The Price Is Right (1972).
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1957 graduate of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
House of Mouse
2001-2002
TV Series
Mike
Mickey's House of Villains
2001
Video
Mike (voice)
Martial Law
1998
TV Series
Price Is Right Announcer
Garfield and Friends
1991
TV Series
Johnny
Soap
1977-1981
TV Series
Announcer
Posse from Heaven
1975
The Deity
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Price Is Right
1985-2003
TV Series
Himself - Announcer / Himself - Try-Out Announcer
The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular
2003
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Hollywood Squares
2002
TV Series
Himself - Guest Announcer
The Price Is Right Salutes
2002
TV Mini-Series
Himself - Announcer
The Price Is Right 30th Anniversary Special
2002
TV Movie
Himself - Announcer
3rd Annual TV Guide Awards
2001
TV Special
Himself
That '70s Show
1999
TV Series
Himself
The Price Is Right 25th Anniversary Special
1996
TV Movie
Himself - Announcer
Family Feud
1988
TV Series
Sub-Announcer (1991, 1992)
On Location: The Roseanne Barr Show
1987
TV Movie
Himself - Announcer
Wordplay
1986
TV Series
Announcer (pilot only)
Press Your Luck
1983-1986
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
The Price Is Right Special
1986
TV Mini-Series
Himself - Announcer
Hot Streak
1986
TV Series
Announcer (pilot only)
Scrabble
1984
TV Series
Announcer (pilot)
Those Wonderful TV Game Shows
1984
TV Special documentary
Himself - Announcer
The New Newlywed Game
1984
TV Series
Announcer (1984)
Love Connection
1983
TV Series
Himself - Announcer (1983-1985)
Hit Man
1983
TV Series
Announcer
The New Battlestars
1981-1982
TV Series
Himself - Announcer / Announcer
Whew!
1979-1980
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
The $10,000 Pyramid
1973
TV Series
Sub-announcer (1983)
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Price Is Right
2012
TV Series
Himself
The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
2004
TV Special
Himself - In Memoriam
Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal
2003
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Announcer
E! True Hollywood Story
2002
TV Series documentary
Himself
Known for movies
Press Your Luck (1983-1986) as Himself - Announcer
The Price Is Right (1985-2012) as Himself - Announcer / Himself - Try-Out Announcer
The Price Is Right 25th Anniversary Special (1996) as Himself - Announcer
The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular (2003) as Himself - Announcer
$700,000
