Bob Stewart, Game Show Inventor, Dies at 91
Television producer of shows such as "The Price Is Right" and "To Tell the Truth" Bob Stewart has died on Friday at the age of 91.
The game show guru died in Los Angeles of respiratory failure, his son Sande Stewart has reported, according to The New York Times.
Stewart's television shows also included long-running "Password" and "The $1,000 Pyramid."
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The co-author of "The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows" Fred Wostbrock discussed Stewart in an interview earlier this week.
"Bob had a talent for tapping into Americana, meaning real people: a pricing game, a game of occupations, trying to get you to say one word," said Wostbrock. "These are what I call communication games- not music shows, not a stunt show, not a singing competition. They were a lot different from the shows at the time and a lot different from what's on TV now."
Stewart's "The Price Is Right" premiered on NBC in November 1956. The show has seen Bill Cullen, Drew Carey, and Bob Barker as hosts along its lengthy broadcast career.
"To Tell The Truth" appeared on CBS in 1956 and featured four celebrities who competed to correctly identify a contestant with an unusual job.
Hosted by Dick Clark, "The $1,000 Pyramid" garnered nine Emmys for Best Game Show and has seen numerous incarnations involving larger sums of money in recent history.
"Password" was the first game show to feature celebrities paired with non-famous people in a competition to guess one word based on clues.
Stewart was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 2010. The innovative television producer is being remembered on Twitter following the news of his death.
"RIP Bob Stewart, creator of 'The Price is Right,'" wrote Darren. "I have not accomplished all of my dreams until I win a Showcase Showdown."
J.D. posted, "RIP Bob Stewart. The man was a freaking genius and lived to 91."
"R.I.P. Bob Stewart Creator of 'The Price Is Right' 1920-2012," posted Manny. "Thank U Bob, I luv this show, grew up watching it & I still do."
Actor Michael McKean posted, "Bob Stewart, who produced the old Pyramid game shows, has passed away at 91. He was an extremely nice man. RIP"
Besides his son Sande, Stewart leaves behind sons Barry and David, as well as two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services will be private with a memorial to be announced.
