Click Here

Chuck Barris

Person Score

 
8.9 Great
6 votes

Your Score

Rate now!

Biography

Recent Role:
Himself on Today Show
Gender:
Male
Born:
6-3-1929
Birthplace:
Philadelphia
Birth Name:
Charles Hirsch Barris
Born Charles H. Barris in Philadelphia on June 3, 1929. The son of a Dentist.
Barris later married Lyn Levy daughter of one of the founders of CBS. This promptly made her family disinherit her.
Chuck had been working as a management trainee at NBC in New York selling teleprompters. Although Chuck never sold any, the couple managed to live off his travel expense account, and they saved his salary. Finally the couple had enough saved to go off to Europe where Chuck would write the great American novel. He never did.

After a not so successful attempt at fight



… More promotion, Chuck landed a job with ABC.
This was the time of the great payola scandal, and Chuck was sent off to Philly to be ABC's watch dog on Dick Clarks show American Bandstand.

Sitting around the set, he wrote a song called "Palisades Park". Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon recorded the song and it became a big hit, Chuck got in trouble for it and ABC told him not to do that anymore, because it didn't look nice. Chuck soon became restless and unhappy at ABC and wanted out.

In 1963 Chuck finally persuaded ABC to send him to Los Angeles as a director of daytime programming. This was a non-existent job since ABC was doing nothing on the coast at that time. A few months later armed with his new title and and having new baby daughter Della, he quit ABC.

Chuck then borrowed $20,000 dollars from his step father and started "The Dating Game". At first ABC rejected the show, then changed it's mind. The show least to say was a fabulous hit, it was then followed by "The Newlywed Game which was also a tremendous hit.

Chuck and Lyn eventually divorced, and Della went to live with her father, and when she got older started appearing on her dad's ever so popular "Gong Show". She also had a role in his later movie entitled "The Gong Show Movie" along with the rest of the cast and crew from "The Gong Show". Della passed away in 1998 from a drug overdose.

Back in the 70's, Chuck Barris Productions was one of the biggest and most prosperous company's in Hollywood.

Chuck went on to write several books after his first novel "You And Me Babe" which was based on his relationship with his first wife Lyn.

After numerous TV shows, some that were hits and some that just couldn't get off the ground plus a four year run with the "Gong Show", Chuck finally threw in the towel. But he had one last project up his sleeve. He made "The Gong Show Movie". The movie was roughly based on a day in the life of Chuck Barris and The Gong Show. Panned by critics, it was a box office flop.

He then packed it in and moved to France with his beautiful new wife Robin "Red" Altman whom he met during the run of the Gong Show.

In 1985 Chuck made one more special for Television. "Anything For A Laugh" was a compilation of all his game shows. The last time Chuck made an appearance on television was in 1993 when he was promoting his new book "Game Show King". He then had a small cameo appearance in his best friend Robert Downey's movie "Hugo Pool" in 1997.

Chuck Barris Productions has since folded and is now Chuck Barris Company with offices in Los Angeles and New York.

Chuck was on the New York Police Dept. board of trustees. The Chuck Barris Foundation was donor to this organization. The Chuck Barris Foundation has since disbanded.

Sadly in 1999, Chuck and Robin divorced and sold their beautiful home in St. Tropez France.

But on the lighter side, after surviving lung cancer, and getting married again to Mary, whom Chuck describes as his "soul mate".
A movie based on one of his bestselling books "Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind", which was released December 27, 2002, and another new book soon to be released in 2003.
So things are looking brighter for him these days, and we all wish him well.

Biography by Marlene Smith ©1997

From the Forums

There are no current discussion topics for Chuck Barris.

Fans' Reviews

More Reviews▸
  •  
    8.5 Great
    A review for Chuck baby? What can I say, he was fantastic. He may think he went over the top on "The Gong Show" set, but I thought then and still think now, he was one of the most entertaining talents of all time. Oh yeah, dig those dancing moves chuck! hide show

    Chuck Barris is a multi talented, charming and witty (ahem) gentleman, who's talent has spanned some 40 plus years. Ive watched more hours of "The Gong Show" than I am years old, going way back to the 1970's all the way up until now, 30 years later. I often enjoy watching video exerpts of Chuck on YouTube. I was 10 years old when the show first aired, and all through my years growing up to be the ripe middle age that I am now (45), I often continued to wonder, "where is that cute little ass now?" I recently found the answer online. Although Chuck is like, 35 years my senior, I find him still crazy, and very likeable after all these years. I continue to follow his progress in life (thank God he is a survivor)and new projects. I love his Album "Confessions of a dangerous singer", and pull up his myspace page, (which by the way, he hasnt logged into since 12/2008!), so I can be gently lulled to sleep by his soft sweet voice. Although I have great respectfor the fact that he is happily married, I still have to be perfectly honest in saying, licking a Jolly Rancher off of his (Blank) would make my life complete! Oh damn, I really did say that out loud, didnt I? Sorry Mary, but I think you know what a handsome and charismatic husband you really do have, and I wish you both the best in life and in love. Rose Bickford

    Do you agree?
     
    Report Abuse
    RoseBickford Added Jul 14, 2009 All my reviews
  •  
    9.5 Superb
    Confession of a Not-So-Dangerous-Fan: Chuck Barris is an unappreciated genius! hide show

    Ever since the first time I saw the Gong Show as a kid, I have been a huge fan of Chuck Barris. He was a whirlwind of energy and creativity that always manages to make me smiles. As I got older, I found out that Chuck Barris was not only a great host, but a genius producer. At his peak, his company was producing 27 hours of television a week. His innovative shows like the Dating Game and the Newlywed Game are still being ripped off today. In addition to his incredible TV work, he's also a successful writer. You can still hear his "Palisades Park" on the radio today. And Confessions of a Dangerous Mind ranks as one of the best books I have ever read. This "unauthorized autobiograhpy" really gives some insight into Chuck's wild mind. To this day, people still talk about whether or not Chuck's stories about being a CIA assassin, which shows that they kind of missed the point. Whether or not it's true, Confessions is a brilliant read.

    Chuck Barris will probably always be most remembered as the "creator of reality TV" and "the schlock host of the Gong Show," and this is unfortunate. Chuck Barris was a TV genius, and someone I have great love and admiration for. Thank you to Chuck Barris, and I can't wait for his next book!

    Do you agree?
     
    Report Abuse
    WinterHood Added Dec 13, 2006 All my reviews
  •  
    7.6 Good
    The Original King of Reality TV! hide show

    Chuck Barris was way before his time. And that he was one of the, IMO, "Original Kings of reality tv." With the Newlywed Game, Dating Game, Treasure Hunt, and the Gong Show. He put emotions rather than smarts. And people to even reveal the most embarrassing secrets on tv. That you couldn't do even in a grand jury testimony. He was really zany and off-the-wall. But I love that in "Chuckie Baby!!"

    Do you agree?
     
    Report Abuse
    JPPT1974 Added Dec 5, 2005 All my reviews
 

Top Contributors

What is a TV.com Contributor?