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Who is Bert Convy

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America's Beloved Game Show Host

As one of the most talented game show hosts of all time, Bert Convy enjoyed huge fame and popularity with American television audiences. Yet, due to his humble nature, few people were aware of his tremendous talents in baseball, Broadway and film. Convy was a star baseball player at North Hollywood High School, and upon graduation was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies. Two years in the Phillies' farm system were followed by his attendance at UCLA, where he studied film. During that time, he was part of a popular singing group called The Cheers. This led to appearances as a featured performer on the Billy Barnes Revue and several television and film roles. One of his more notable roles was in the 1959 Roger Corman horror classic, Bucket of Blood. Convy starred on Broadway in the 1960s, when he sang in two memorable musical comedies, Fiddler on the Roof and Cabaret. At that time he was also a frequent guest and panelist on a number of variety shows and game shows. His warm personality and popularity with viewers made him the perfect choice for stepping up to the podium and hosting daytime game shows himself. Over the next couple of decades he was at the helm for such quizzers as Tattletales, Super Password, The Third Degree, and Win, Lose or Draw.

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Contents at a Glance

Bert Convy
Bert Convy on Perry Mason
Perry Mason ~ The Case of the Nimble Nep...
Bert Convy Was a Man of Many Talents
Did You Know?
North Hollywood High School
Jill Haworth & Bert Convy in Cabaret
Bert Convy on Broadway
Fiddler on the Roof

Bert Convy

A Few Facts Courtesy of Wikipedia

Bernard Whalen "Bert" Convy (July 23, 1933 - July 15, 1991) was an American game show host and panelist, actor and singer known for his tenure as the host for Tattletales, Super Password, and Win, Lose or Draw. Convy was married twice: to Anne Anderson, with whom he had three children; and to Catherine Hills, whom he wed five months prior to his death. Bert's daughter Jennifer also has been involved in television, moderating shows on Home and Garden Television (HGTV). His youngest son, Jonah Convy, is also involved in show business. His eldest son, Joshua Convy, is an accountant.

Bert Convy on Perry Mason

Perry Mason ~ The Case of the Nimble Nephew

Bert Convy as Harry Thompson (Original Airdate: April 23, 1960)

Bert Convy Was a Man of Many Talents

LIttle Known Facts About Bert Convy

He excelled in baseball while attending North Hollywood High School
He played first base for a Philadelphia Phillies farm team before entering show business
He attended the University of California, Los Angeles film program
He was part of the fifties pop group, The Cheers
He and fellow Cheers members Sue Allen and Gil Garfield had a hit called Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots (1955)
He was seriously considered for the role of Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, but lost out to Jonathan Frid (1967)
He won an Emmy Award for Tattletales
He was scheduled to host The Match Game, but became too ill and was replaced by Ross Shafer (1990)

Did You Know?

Bert Convy remains best known for his first television game show, Tattletales, for which he was awarded an Emmy for "Best Game Show Host" in 1977.

North Hollywood High School

North Hollywood, California

Bert Convy attended North Hollywood High School in the San Fernando Valley. Here are some notable people who also attended North Hollywood High:

Harry Anderson ~ Actor, Night Court
Richard Beymer ~ Actor, West Side Story
Teri Garr ~ Actress, Young Frankenstein
Alyson Hannigan ~ Actress, American Pie
Alan Ladd ~ Actor, Shane
Elizabeth McGovern ~ Actress, Ragtime
Martin Milner ~ Actor, Adam-12
Erin Moran ~ Actress, Happy Days
Susan Sontag ~ Author, Novelist, Critic, Intellectual
Russ Tamblyn ~ Actor, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Adam Carolla ~ TV & Radio Personality, Loveline, The Man Show

Jill Haworth & Bert Convy in Cabaret

Bert Convy on Broadway

Broadway Star Bert Convy in Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof

Bert Convy starred on Broadway in the sixties and originated two memorable musical comedy roles: Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof and Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret. Both roles were changed to non-singing parts in the film adaptations of these musical productions.

Fiddler on the Roof

Starring Bert Convy as Perchik

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Bert Convy Collectibles on eBay

The Latest Auctions for Bert Convy Photographs and Collectibles

Roger Corman's A Bucket of Blood

Bert Convy Filmography

Bert Convy

Gunman's Walk (1958)
A Bucket of Blood (1959)
Susan Slade (1961)
Act One (1963)
The Love Bug (1968)
Les Caprices de Marie (1970)
Death Takes a Holiday (1971)
Oh! Baby, Baby, Baby... (1974)
The Girl on the Late, Late Show (1974)
Rancho Deluxe (1975)
The Love Boat II (1977)
SST: Death Flight (1977)
Semi-Tough (1977)
Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery (1978)
Jennifer (1978)
The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979)
Racquet (1979)
Hanging by a Thread (1979)
Ebony, Ivory and Jade (1979)
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (1979)
Hero at Large (1980)
The Cannonball Run (1981)
Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls (1981)
Help Wanted: Male (1982)
Love Thy Neighbor (1984)
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abramowitz (1985)
Weekend Warriors (1986)
In the Mood (1987)

Shop for Bert Convy Films

Bert Convy Movies on DVD

CNN Review of Alan Alda's Autobiography

Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself

Alda doesn't diminish the impact of others. He pays tribute to a number of people in the book, from his father -- a well-known stage actor -- to such figures as actor Ossie Davis, scientist Richard Feynman (whom Alda portrayed on stage) and manager Martin Bregman.

One Alda story, about actor Bert Convy, is revealing in a number of ways. To many, Convy -- if remembered at all -- is thought of (often derisively) as a game show host ("Tattletales") or '70s TV guest star. But Convy was also a fine stage actor -- he starred in the original "Fiddler on the Roof" on Broadway -- and, Alda remembers, showed courage during the violence of the 1968 Democratic convention in helping free some demonstrators.

"He was an unlikely hero of mine, because he really risked a lot one night in Chicago," Alda says. "He saved some people from possibly getting badly hurt, getting them out of jail."

And Convy, like some of Alda's "M*A*S*H" colleagues, is also an illustration of how performers get pigeonholed, a subject Alda has considered deeply. "That's what usually happens when you get well-known in one part ... which is why it really is fair for actors to get paid a lot of money on television, because it could be the last time you'll see them. That one job for five or six years could turn out to be what their whole career is."

Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself

by Alan Alda

Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself

by: Alan Alda

Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 05/29/2012)

A follow-up to his bestseller, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed.

Super Password Hosted by Bert Convy

Super Password: The Final Episode

Special Guest Betty White

Highlights from the final episode of Super Password, featuring a puzzle, a bonus round in which the honorable Betty White is giving the clues, a farewell speech from Bert Convy, and closing credits.