Biography

Bill Cullen

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Bill Cullen was born on February 18, 1920 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a producer and actor, known for Three on a Match (1971), It Happened to Jane (1959) and Hot Potato (1984). He was married to Ann Cullen, Carol Ames and Ruth Elizabeth Harrington. He died on July 7, 1990 in Bel Air, California, USA.

Thick, horn-rimmed glasses
His puckish sense of humor and for playing pranks on his fellow announcers.
Occasionally, at the beginning of his shows, he was either seated or stood to his podium.

Has the record for hosting more game shows than any host in history at 24.
Was the first game show host ever to have a disability.
He was partially crippled by childhood polio.
Lived right next door to Wilt Chamberlain.
Was considered for the hosting of the revamped version of the long-running game show, The Price Is Right (1972). However, the physical demands of the job would have been too difficult for him given his physical condition at the time, and the job was given to Bob Barker.

I often ask myself, 'How am I working?' I'm certainly not the guy who appeals to women between the ages of 18 and 35.
[about not being allowed to wear a brace in school sports] I did fine on the back lot. Maybe I ran a lot slower, but I hit the ball a lot harder.
[in 1957 about his limp] Like thousands of other youngsters, I was stricken with polio as a child. Even with the wonderful care I received from my parents and doctors, I still carry the scars of this experience. Somehow, it never got me down. That's why I would rather not have people who see me limp along show any pity, distress or compassion--since I don't feel this way about my physical condition.
[in 1988 about game shows] I don't enjoy television as much as I used to. It's not as much fun. There's a lot of greed today, it seems. A lot of business administration aspirants coming along. They used to play it for fun, to get on the air and have their friends see them. You'd give them a thousand dollars and you made their year. Now, unless it's twenty or thirty thousand dollars, they look at you like you suckered them into a deal that really didn't turn out as well as they perhaps had hoped.
Two reasons, money and exposure. [Also,] it's no strain...shows of the type I do don't require a lot of rehearsal and preparation.

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