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Photo of Ralph Edwards

Ralph Edwards

Actor, Producer, Additional Credits
Born June 13, 1913Died November 16, 2005 (92 years)
Ralph Edwards was born near Merino, Colorado, in 1913, moving with his family to Oakland, California, when he was 12. He worked his way through college at radio stations in Oakland and San Francisco, graduating from the University of California at Berkeley in 1935 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama. Edwards moved to New York in 1936 and became one of radio's busiest announcers, doing as many as 45 network shows a week. In 1940, in response to this hectic pace, Edwards created, produced and hosted the landmark audience participation show "Truth or Consequences".

The show's great popularity led to his appearance in the Lucille Ball-Victor Mature film Seven Days' Leave (1942). He moved the show and his production company to Hollywood in 1945, where he made three more films for RKO: Radio Stars on Parade (1945), The Bamboo Blonde (1946) and Beat the Band (1947), all with Frances Langford. His big-screen career took a decided back seat in 1948, when Edwards first brought to the air his other long-running show, This Is Your Life (1952).

On radio for its first two years, Edwards took the program to NBC-TV in 1952, where it remained until 1961, winning two Emmys (he also hosted a syndicated version from 1971-1973). His last feature film appearance came in the Susan Hayward MGM bio-pic of Lillian Roth, I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), which ends with a recreation of Roth's appearance on This Is Your Life (1952). Edwards' television career began in earnest in 1950, when The New Truth and Consequences (1950) aired one season on CBS-TV and earned the first Emmy awarded for an audience participation show. He turned over host duties to Jack Bailey in 1954 and, in 1956, launched the career of Bob Barker as host of the daytime version. Edwards, also well-known for his extensive charitable and philanthropic activities, became one of TV's most prolific producers.

Date of Birth 13 June 1913, Merino, Colorado

Date of Death 16 November 2005, West Hollywood, California (congestive heart failure)

Known For

  • This is Your Life (UK)
  • This Is Your Life (US)
  • The Bamboo Blonde
  • Beadle's About
  • Beat the Band
  • This is Your Life (Australia)

Filmography

2023
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed · as Self - Host, This Is Your Life
2021
Waterman · as Self - Film Clips From This Is Your Life Feb. 20, 1957
2021
Elvis and the USS Arizona · as Self - Host, This Is Your Life
2021
2017
Mansfield 66/67 · as Self - Host Of This Is Your Life
2012
Clara Bow: Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess · as Self - Presenter Truth Or Consequences
2008
2007
2007
2004
2003
Inside the Marx Brothers · as Self - Host (clip From This Is Your Life (tv))
2001
1997
Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's · as Self (with Chasen On This Is Your Life)
1991
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio · as Self - Host Of 'this Is Your Life'
1986
1982
Frances · as Self -- Host Of This Is Your Life
1973
Tomorrow (TV Series) · as Self
1971
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (TV Series) · as Self
1970
The Flip Wilson Show (TV Series) · as Self
1967
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (TV Series) · as Self
1962
The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self
1961
The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self
1960
Here's Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self
1957
The Jack Paar Tonight Show (TV Series) · as Self
1956
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV Series) · as Self
1956
Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (TV Series) · as Self - Game Show Host
1956
The Steve Allen Show (TV Series) · as Self - This Is Your Life
1955
I'll Cry Tomorrow · as Ralph Edwards
1955
This is Your Life (UK) (TV Series) · as Self
1953
Person to Person (TV Series) · as Self
1952
Art Linkletter's House Party (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1950
This Is Your Life (US) (TV Series) · as Self - Host
1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) · as Self
1950
The Bob Hope Show (TV Series) · as Self
1948
The Milton Berle Show (TV Series) · as Self
1945
Radio Stars on Parade · as Ralph Edwards
1942
Seven Days' Leave · as Ralph Edwards

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