Raymond Neil "Ray" Combs, Jr. (April 3, 1956 – June 2, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, and game show host.Combs began his professional career as a stand-up comedian in the 1980s. His popularity on the stand-up circuit led to him being signed as the host of the revival of the game show Family Feud. The show aired on CBS and was in syndication until 1994. From 1995 to 1996, Combs hosted another game show Family Challenge.Beset with marital and financial problems, Combs hanged himself in the closet of the psychiatric ward of Glendale Adventist Medical Center where he was being held for observation in June 1996.
| Full Name | Ray Combs |
| Net Worth | $8 Million |
| Date Of Birth | April 3, 1956 |
| Died | June 2, 1996, Glendale, California, United States |
| Place Of Birth | Hamilton, Ohio, USA |
| Height | 5' 8" (1.73 m) |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, game show host |
| Profession | Actor, Comedian, Presenter |
| Work Position | Host of Family Feud |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Debra Jo Loomis |
| Children | Raymond Neil Combs III, Chelsy Jae Combs, Kirby Lee Combs, Kelly Jo Combs, Whitney Nicole Combs, Cody Ryan Combs |
| Parents | Raymond Neil Combs, Sr., Anita Jean Waters Combs |
| Siblings | Connie Combs-Riggs |
| Nicknames | Ray Combs, Combs, Ray |
| IMDB |
| Nominations | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host |
| Movies | The 1984 Los Angeles Comedy Competition with Host Jay Leno |
| TV Shows | Family Challenge, Family Feud |
| Star Sign | Aries |
| # | Fact |
|---|
| 1 | A decade after his death, his mother, Anita Jean Waters Combs, passed away on April 4, 2006, at age 68. |
| 2 | Best remembered by the public as the second host of Family Feud (1988). |
| 3 | Worked with Gene Wood on 2 game shows: Family Feud (1988) and Family Challenge (1995). |
| 4 | Though he was very happy in meeting the families on Family Challenge (1995), he really wasn't very happy with this hosting project on cable, because for him to revitalized his career as a game show host, he had to start all over again, waiting for bigger and better opportunities, when he actually had committed suicide. |
| 5 | 14 years after his death, his father, Raymond Neil Combs, Sr., passed away on February 1, 2010, who lived to be 76. |
| 6 | His father, Raymond Neil Combs, Sr., was 22, and his mother, Anita Jean Waters Combs, was only 18, when they had him. |
| 7 | Died on his wife's birthday. |
| 8 | Actor Lonzo Jones lived in his guest house in Glendale, California. |
| 9 | The only person, ever, to receive a standing ovation on his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962). He did a comedy routine. |
| 10 | Hosted his first game show, Comedy Challenge (1986), in 1986. |
| 11 | Children: Raymond Neil Combs III (born September 15, 1978); Kelly Jo Combs (born August 25, 1980); Whitney Nicole Combs (born June 26, 1983); Chelsy Jae Combs (born July 2, 1987); Kirby Lee Combs (born October 30, 1988) and Cody Ryan Combs (born March 16, 1991). |
| 12 | In an attempt to make a post-Family Feud (1988) comeback, he tried out for a proposed talk show that never materialized. |
| 13 | Shortly before his death, Ray Combs had his last comedy club close due to financial troubles and disputes with business associates, went into debt by several thousand dollars on bank loans and credit cards, all of which led him to suicide. |
| 14 | On July 4, 1988, Ray Combs was introduced formally to America as the new host of Family Feud (1988). |
| 15 | After the 1993-1994 season, due to declining ratings, Goodson Productions decided to let Richard Dawson return as host of Family Feud (1988), replacing Combs. The ratings continued to slide, and the show was canceled in 1995. |
| 16 | Was involved in an automobile accident that nearly left him paralyzed in the summer of 1994. |
| 17 | Hosted his second and final game show Family Challenge (1995) on The Family Channel, which lasted until his death in 1996. Reruns continued to air until after his death until fall 1996 when future Match Game (1998) host Michael Burger replaced Combs. The show was canceled in early 1997. |
| 18 | Was a stand up comedian. |
