In Memory of Actor/Game Show Host Bert Convy: 33 Years After His Tragic Death From Brain Cancer

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It's been 33 years since the handsome actor and Emmy award-winning TV game show host Bert Convy died of a brain tumor at 57 in 1991. This is his story.

A Class Clown and Star First Baseman

Bert Convy was born July 23, 1933, in St. Louis, Missouri. His father was in the shoe business, while his parents separated when he was just seven years old. His mother moved the family to California in the San Fernando Valley, where Convy attended North Hollywood High and was named the "class clown."

As a star first baseman for North Hollywood High School, Convy signed with the Philadelphia Phillies one day after graduating and played for their farm teams in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Miami, Oklahoma.

Then Came Acting

Bert Convy later studied Film at U.C.L.A. (with classmate Carol Burnett), and began acting in musicals like The Billy Barnes Revue in Los Angeles.

During the 1950s, Convy was a meber of the pop-music group, The Cheers, which also included Sue Allen and Gil Garfield.

In 1955, the band reached Number 6 on Billboard's charts with the song, "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots."

New York, New York

Bert Convy eventually relocated to New York, where he performed in 10 Broadway shows, including the original productions of Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof.

In 1959, Convy wed his first wife, Anne Anderson, with whom he would have three children: Jennifer Convy (1960), Joshua Convy (1965) and Jonah Convy (1968).

Around the same time, Convy auditioned for the role of vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic cult TV daytime drama Dark Shadows (ABC, 1966-1971). He didn't win the part (which went to the now legendary Jonathan Frid), but Convy went on to host his own prime-time variety show, The Late Summer early Fall Bert Convy Show.

Subsequently, Convy began making other TV appearances in series like 77 Sunset Strip, Perry Mason, Love, American Style, Charlie's Angels, and more. The multi-talented creative also appeared in feature films such as Love Thy Neighbor (1984), Hero at Large (1980), and Semi-Tough (1977), the latter of which starred his good friend Burt Reynolds.

Triump and Tragedy

In the mid-1970s, Bert Convy began a forray into the world of television game shows, which he began hosting with the fun celebrity-couples series, Tattletales (CBS, 1974-1978).

In 1977, Convy more than proved his worth in the genre by winning an Emmy for his supreme hosting abilities. This led to additional game-show hosting duties on Super Password (NBC, 1984-1989), and Win, Lose or Draw (NBC and in syndication, 1987-1990), which he served as co-executive producer with Burt Reynolds (under the banner, Burt and Bert Productions).

In 1987, Convy and Anne Anderson separated, and began what became a lengthy, challenging divorce. This emotional, psychological, and financially painful period was then exacerbated when he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

In April 1990 Convy was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after collapsing while visiting his mother. He had experienced a series of strokes, and his doctors were not optimistic. Convy did not have long to live, and was forced to relinquish any plans for a reboot of the popular Match Game game show franchise (previously hosted by Gene Rayburn).

By this time, too, Convy had a new romantic match off-camer: He met and fell in love with a 25-year-old woman named Catherine Hillsold. At his request, Anderson finally agreed to a divorce so Convy could pass away while wed to Hillsold.

In the End

In February of 1991, Bert Convy and Catherine Hillsold held their sacred matrimony. Five months later, he died on July 18, a mere eight days from what would have been his 58th birthday.

Convy's service, held at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, was attended by Burt Reynolds, his then-wife Loni Anderson; Sally Struthers, Dom DeLuise and Tom Poston, among others.

Convy's countless fans grieved from a distance, right along with the stars.