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Most Popular Game Show Hosts in History

Most Popular Game Show Hosts in History

“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek just turned 80. The iconic game-show host has a legion of fans, as evidenced by the outpouring of concern over his public battle with pancreatic cancer.

In honor of his birthday, 24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of famous game show hosts by reviewing various media sources and websites, such as the Internet Movie Database. We considered Wikipedia page views to gauge a game show host’s popularity, factored in their longevity and place in television history, and exercised editorial discretion to create our list.

Besides the entertainment value of the format, a game show’s success depends on the personality, charisma, and quick-wittedness of the host who is able to convey the possibility, albeit remote, of getting rich quickly by luck or intelligence. Many hosts have become celebrities in their own right. 

Some of television’s earliest game shows projected an erudite and sophisticated image, such as “I’ve Got a Secret,” “What’s My Line” and “To Tell the Truth.” Others, including “The $64,000 Question,” could be intellectually challenging. Dr. Joyce Brothers, who later gained fame as a psychologist, television personality, and columnist, became the only woman to win the top prize on “The $64,000 Question.” In the 1950s, a scandal involving rigged game shows tainted the  format and hosts such as Jack Barry were effectively blacklisted from television until the late 1960s. The scandal was depicted in the 1994 movie “Quiz Show,” directed by Robert Redford. 

Game show hosts have been comedians (Groucho Marx on “You Bet Your Life”), playwrights (Moss Hart on “Answer Yes or No”), former athletes (Michael Strahan on “The $100,000 Pyramid”), British imports (Richard Dawson on “Family Feud”), even newsmen (Mike Wallace on a slew of game shows in the 1950s). Nearly all of the hosts of the early game shows were white males. Since then, television has diversified to include women and minority quizmasters, such as Meredith Viera (“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”), Mario Lopez (“Masters of the Maze”), and Steve Harvey (“Family Feud”), who is one of America’s most loved TV personalities..

For the luckier game show hosts, a gig on a quiz program can lead to a long career on TV. Trebek has hosted “Jeopardy!” since 1984. Pat Sajak might have the greatest longevity of any host ever; he’s hosted “Wheel of Fortune” since 1983

Bob Barker, who helmed “The Price is Right” from 1972 to 2007, won 15 Emmys, 12 of them for Outstanding Game Show Host, which has been awarded since 1974. These are the most popular Emmy winning actors.

Source: Public Domain

50. Jack Barry (1918-1984)
> Notable game shows: High Low Quiz, Juvenile Jury, Life Begins at Eighty, 21, Tic Tac Dough, Concentration, The Generation Gap, The Joker’s Wild, Break the Bank, Joker! Joker!! Joker!!!
> Years on air as host: 1947-1958, 1969-1980
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 64,598

Jack Barry was involved in many early game shows on television as host and executive, including “Juvenile Jury,” “21,” and “Tic Tac Dough.” “21” was the highest-rated game show of the 1950s. He became embroiled in the quiz show scandals of the 1950s and for years did not appear on television. Barry eventually returned to the small screen in 1972 to host “The Joker’s Wild.”

Source: A purebred Boxer dog standing outdoors and listening with a head tilt

49. Dennis James (1917-1997)
> Notable game shows: Cash and Carry, The Name’s the Same, The Price Is Right (nighttime), Name That Tune
> Years on air as host: 1946-1977
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 72,678

Dennis James, frequently referred to as “The Dean of Game Show Hosts,” is credited as the host of television’s first network game show, “Cash and Carry,” in 1946. During a career that lasted until 1977, James hosted “The Name’s the Same,” the nighttime version of “The Price Is Right,” and “Name That Tune.”

Source: Public Domain

48. Jim Lange (1932-2014)
> Notable game shows: The Dating Game/The New Dating Game, Spin-Off, Give-n-Take, Word Grabbers, Bullseye, The $100,000 Name That Tune, The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime, Triple Threat
> Years on air as host: 1965-1989
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 74,357

Daytime TV viewers in the 1960s and 1970s will remember Jim Lange as the host of the long-running “The Dating Game,” where contestants would ask cringeworthy questions of prospective dates. Among the celebrities who appeared on the show were Tom Selleck, Farrah Fawcet, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Andy Kaufman.

Source: Tom Kennedy

47. Tom Kennedy (1927-)
> Notable game shows: Doctor I.Q., It’s Your Bet, The Big Game, You Don’t Say!, Split Second, Break the Bank, 50 Grand Slam, Name That Tune/The $100,000 Name That Tune, Whew!/Celebrity Whew!, Password Plus, Body Language, The Price Is Right, Wordplay
> Years on air as host: 1958-1987
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 75,807

Tom Kennedy, who hosted game shows for more than 30 years, including “You Don’t Say!” “Name That Tune,” and “The Price Is Right,” was the brother of one game show host, Jack Narz, and the brother-in-law of another, Bill Cullen.

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

46. Bud Collyer (1908-1969)
> Notable game shows: Winner Take All, Beat the Clock, On Your Way, Feather Your Nest, To Tell the Truth, Number Please
> Years on air as host: 1948-1968
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 85,915

Bud Collyer cut his teeth in show business on radio during the 1940s, playing the title role in “The Adventures of Superman.” He switched over to the nascent medium of television in the late 1940s and hosted several game shows. Collyer became famous as the host of “Beat the Clock” and as the bowtie-wearing host of “To Tell the Truth.”

Source: Public Domain

45. Hal March (1920-1970)
> Notable game shows: The $64,000 Question, What’s It For?, It’s Your Bet
> Years on air as host: 1955-1970
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 98,256

Hal March started as one-half of a comedy team, Sweeney & March, and appeared on early television shows such as “I Love Lucy” and “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.” His big break came as host of “The $64,000 Question,” which became a television sensation because of the amount of prize money and March’s winning personality. “The $64,000 Question” was involved in the quiz show scandals of the 1950s, and March’s association with the program hurt his career.

Source: Public Domain

44. Jack Narz (1922-2008)
> Notable game shows: The Price Is Right, Dotto, Top Dollar, Video Village, Seven Keys, I’ll Bet, Beat the Clock, Concentration, Now You See It
> Years on air as host: 1957-1979
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 98,265

The brother of Tom Kennedy, another game show host, Jack Narz was a familiar TV game-show quizmaster for over 20 years beginning in 1957. After a stint as a radio announcer, Narz hosted nine game shows, among them “The Price Is Right,” “Beat the Clock,” and “Concentration.”

Source: N/A

43. Garry Moore (1915-1993)
> Notable game shows: I’ve Got a Secret, To Tell the Truth
> Years on air as host: 1952-1977
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 160,957

Garry Moore was the host of the early hit game show “I’ve Got a Secret,” in which four panelists questioned the person with the secret to find out what the secret was. The show ran from 1952 to 1967 and spawned several revivals. Moore also hosted the game show “To Tell the Truth” from 1969 to 1977.

Source: Bettmann / Getty Images

42. John Charles Daly (1914-1991)
> Notable game shows: What’s My Line?
> Years on air as host: 1950-1967
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 201,833

John Charles Daly was a reporter and news executive who gained lasting fame as the charming host of “What’s My Line?” Blindfolded panelists would try to identify a mystery guest who was asked by Daly to “Sign in, please” by writing their name on a chalkboard. Among the luminaries who graced the show were Eleanor Roosevelt, singer Marian Anderson, and playwright Noel Coward. The program was a Sunday night institution and ran from 1950 to 1967.

Source: Jason Kempin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

41. Peter Marshall (1926-)
> Notable game shows: Hollywood Squares, Storybook Squares, All-Star Blitz, Yahtzee, The Reel to Reel Picture Show
> Years on air as host: 1966-1998
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 257,633

Peter Marshall hosted four game shows in the 1980s and 1990s, but none was more popular than the daytime mainstay “Hollywood Squares.” The game show placed nine celebrities in a tic-tac-toe alignment and Marshall would ask each of them a question and the contestant could either agree or disagree with the answer. The daytime version of the “Hollywood Squares” ran from 1966 to 1982.

Source: Photo by ÔøΩÔøΩ John Springer Collection / CORBIS / Corbis via Getty Images

40. Art Fleming (1924-1995)
> Notable game shows: Jeopardy!/The All New Jeopardy!, College Bowl
> Years on air as host: 1964-1979
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 319,536

Long before Alex Trebek put his stamp on the primetime game show “Jeopardy!,” in which contestants have to respond to clues from various categories in the form of questions, the show was hosted in daytime by Art Fleming. The show, created by Merv Griffin, ran from 1964 to 1975 and returned for a brief run from 1978 to 1979. Fleming played himself in the movie “Airplane II: The Sequel” in 1982.

Source: mamsy / Flickr

39. Marc Summers (1951-)
> Notable game shows: Double Dare/Super Sloppy Double Dare, Couch Potatoes, What Would You Do?, Pick Your Brain, History IQ, WinTuition
> Years on air as host: 1986-2004
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 322,515

Marc Summers began his entertainment career as a magician, disc jockey and comedian. His first on-air job for a game show was as an announcer for “The Joker’s Wild” in 1973 at age 22. He is best known as host of the show “Double Dare” on Nickelodeon from 1986 to 1993.

Source: Hulton Archive / Archive Photos via Getty Images

38. Bill Cullen (1920-1990)
> Notable game shows: Act It Out, Winner Take All, Bank on the Stars, The Price Is Right, Eye Guess, Three on a Match, Winning Streak, The $25,000 Pyramid, Pass the Buck, Chain Reaction, Blockbusters, Child’s Play, Hot Potato, The Joker’s Wild
> Years on air as host: 1949-1986
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 338,501

The bespectacled quizmaster known for his impish humor overcame a childhood bout with polio that caused him physical challenges the rest of his life to host 24 different game shows. Among the programs he helmed were “The Price Is Right,” “Eye Guess,” and “Three on a Match.” He also served as a panelist on other game shows, such as “I’ve Got a Secret.” Cullen was the brother-in-law of two other game show hosts, Jack Narz and Tom Kennedy.

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

37. Wink Martindale (1933-)
> Notable game shows: What’s This Song?, Can You Top This?, Words and Music, Gambit/Las Vegas Gambit, The New Tic Tac Dough/Tic Tac Dough, Headline Chasers, The New High Rollers, The Last Word, Great Getaway Game, Trivial Pursuit, Boggle, Shuffle, Debt, Instant Recall
> Years on air as host: 1964-2010
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 374,070

Wink Martindale, born Winston Conrad Martindale, was a game-show fixture for nearly 50 years. Among the shows the former disc jockey hosted were “Can You Top This?,” “Tic Tac Dough,” “Gambit,” and “The New High Rollers.”

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

36. Monty Hall (1921-2017)
> Notable game shows: Video Village/Video Village Junior, Let’s Make a Deal, It’s Anybody’s Guess, Beat the Clock, The Joke’s on Us, Split Second
> Years on air as host: 1961-1991
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 434,490

Monty Hall gained fame as the host of “Let’s Make a Deal,” the show in which contestants were selected by Hall from a studio audience, many of whom dressed in flamboyant costumes, and offered something of value. Contestants were then given the choice of keeping the item or exchanging it for an unknown one behind a curtain. Hall hosted the show from 1963 to 1975.

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

35. Bob Eubanks (1938-)
> Notable game shows: The Newlywed Game, The Diamond Head Game, Rhyme and Reason, All Star Secrets, Dream House, Trivia Trap, Card Sharks, Family Secrets
> Years on air as host: 1966-2000
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 485,049

Bob Eubanks has had an entertainment career as an actor and producer, however, he is best known as the baritone-voiced host of “The Newlywed Game,” famous for its often risqué questions posed to newly united couples who vied for prizes such as home furnishings. The first version of the show ran from 1966 to 1974.

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

34. Hugh Downs (1921-2020)
> Notable game shows: Concentration
> Years on air as host: 1958-1969
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 526,251

Hugh Downs, a descendant of frontiersman Davy Crockett, had one of the most varied careers in television. He was an announcer and sidekick for “Tonight Starring Jack Paar” from 1957 to 1962; a co-host of the NBC News morning program “Today” from 1962 to 1971; and anchor of the ABC News magazine “20/20” from 1978 to 1999. Downs was also the host of the game show “Concentration,” based on a kids’ memory game, from 1958 to 1969. He was one of the first inductees into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2007.

Source: gageskidmore / Flickr

33. Melissa Peterman (1971-)
> Notable game shows: The Singing Bee, Bet on Your Baby
> Years on air as host: 2009-2014
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 553,959

Actress and sketch comedian Melissa Peterman is best known for her role as Barbra Jean in the television comedy series “Reba.” She has been the host of the game shows “The Singing Bee” and “Bet on Your Baby.”

Source: Courtesy of ABC

32. Ray Combs (1956-1996)
> Notable game shows: Family Feud/The New Family Feud Challenge, Family Challenge
> Years on air as host: 1988-1996
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 581,186

Ray Combs leveraged his notoriety on the comedy circuit to become the host of the game show “Family Feud,” in which two families compete against each other for prizes. Combs hosted the show from 1988 to 1996. He also helmed the show “Family Challenge.”

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

31. Meredith Vieira (1953-)
> Notable game shows: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, 25 Words or Less
> Years on air as host: 2002-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 628,244

Television personality Meredith Vieira began her career in television journalism, which included a stint as an editor on the long-running news program “60 Minutes.” The Emmy-Award winner was the co-host of the “Today” show and the talk show “The View,” and she was the host of “The Meredith Vieira Show.” The personable Vieria was also host of the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” for 11 seasons.

Source: Photo by CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images

30. Bert Convy (1933-1991)
> Notable game shows: Tattletales, Super Password, Win, Lose or Draw, 3rd Degree
> Years on air as host: 1974-1990
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 638,416

Bert Convy, who played minor league baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, was a singer, film and stage actor, and game show host and panelist. The telegenic Convy was best known for hosting the game shows “Tattletales” and “Super Password.”

Source: Chris McKay / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

29. Jeff Foxworthy (1958-)
> Notable game shows: Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, The American Bible Challenge
> Years on air as host: 2007-2015
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 692,656

Jeff Foxworthy gained fame as a comedian with his multi-platinum album “You Might be a Redneck If…” He parlayed his breezy, good-ole-boy persona into hosting the game show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”, which he helmed from 2007 to 2015.

Source: Photo by Michael Ochs Archives / Moviepix / Getty Images

28. Gene Rayburn (1917-1999)
> Notable game shows: Make the Connection, The Match Game, Amateur’s Guide to Love, Match Game ’73-Match Game ’79/Match Game PM, Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour, Break the Bank
> Years on air as host: 1955-1985
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 874,506

Gene Rayburn was a comedian and stage performer who appeared in such shows as “”Bye Bye Birdie” and “Under the Yum Yum Tree.” Rayburn worked with Steve Allen on the original “Tonight Show” in the early 1950s. Older television viewers remember Rayburn as the host of the original “The Match Game” in the 1960s and the reboot of the game show in the 1970s.

Source: robras / Flickr

27. Chuck Woolery (1941-)
> Notable game shows: Wheel of Fortune, Love Connection, Scrabble, The Dating Game, Greed, Lingo, Think Like a Cat
> Years on air as host: 1975-2008
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 953,236

Chuck Woolery, who had aspirations of becoming a rock star early in his career, hosted “The Love Connection” from 1983 to 1994. This game show introduced a bachelor or bachelorette to three possible dates, and the studio audience voted on the best pairing. Woolery was the first host of the Wheel of Fortune from 1975 to 1981, when he left following a contract dispute.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

26. Dick Clark (1929-2012)
> Notable game shows: The Object Is, Missing Links, The $10,000/$20,000/$25,000/$50,000/$100,000 Pyramid, The Krypton Factor, The Challengers, Scattergories, It Takes Two, Winning Lines
> Years on air as host: 1963-2000
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,009,384

Dick Clark, the host of the iconic dance TV show “American Bandstand,” and a prolific producer of television programming, was the host of “The $10,000 Pyramid,” which premiered in 1973. The game paired a contestant with a celebrity and the contestant tried to guess words or phrases in a category displayed on a pyramid game board from a description given by the celebrity. The show spawned other versions.

Source: Shot of a young couple exploring the city of Amsterdam by bike

25. Sherri Shepherd (1967-)
> Notable game shows: The Newlywed Game
> Years on air as host: 2010-2013
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,235,300

Sherri Shepherd is known to television audiences as one of the hosts of the talk show “The View,” for which she won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host. She has also appeared on the long-running series “Dancing with the Stars.” Shepherd became host of the rebooted “The Newlywed Game” in 2010.

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

24. Allen Ludden (1917-1981)
> Notable game shows: G.E. College Bowl, Password/Password Allstars/Password Plus, Win With the Stars, Stumpers, Liar’s Club
> Years on air as host: 1959-1980
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,278,449

Allen Ludden was the original host of the game-show stalwart “Password,” which gained lasting fame as the subject of a famous episode of the sit-com “The Odd Couple.” Ludden was the husband of actress/comedian Betty White, who was a frequent player on the show, in which players had to guess a word from a one-word clue.

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

23. Brooke Burns (1978-)
> Notable game shows: Dog Eat Dog, Hole in the Wall, You Deserve It, The Chase
> Years on air as host: 2002-2015
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,354,783

Television viewers probably remember Brooke Burns from her recurring role on the series “Baywatch,” where she appeared from 1998 and 2001, and for her appearance in the movie “Shallow Hal.” She was the host of the reality game show test of survival “Dog Eats Dog” in 2001 and “Hole in the Wall” in 2008-2009, in which contestants try to fit through a narrow opening.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

22. Groucho Marx (1890-1977)
> Notable game shows: You Bet Your Life, Tell It to Groucho
> Years on air as host: 1950-1962
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,465,271

Legendary comedian Groucho Marx hosted the game show “You Bet Your Life,” in which contestants were quizzed on their knowledge, and during the course of the program might win money if they said a secret word. More than anything else, the show was a vehicle for Groucho’s rapier-like wit.

Source: Cold Moscow Mules cocktail with ginger beer, vodka, lime. White stone background.

21. Chris Hardwick (1971-)
> Notable game shows: Trashed, Singled Out, @midnight, The Wall
> Years on air as host: 1994-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,566,110

Snarky game show host Chris Hardwick has helmed popular programs such as “Singled Out,” a dating show that ran on MTV from 1995-1997, in which a person chooses from among 50 people through three rounds of questions and stunts. Hardwick won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media – Social TV Experience for his work on the show @midnight.

Source: gageskidmore / Flickr

20. Mario López (1973-)
> Notable game shows: Masters of the Maze, Pet Star, America’s Best Dance Crew
> Years on air as host: 1995-2012
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,578,128

Mario López reached stardom in the 1980s as a teen heartthrob in the sitcom “Saved by the Bell.” He also played OIympic diver Greg Louganis in the television movie, “Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story.” López has extended his celebrity status by hosting shows such as “Masters of the Maze,” “Pet Star,” and “America’s Best Dance Crew.”

Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

19. Regis Philbin (1931-)
> Notable game shows: The Neighbors, Almost Anything Goes, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire, Million Dollar Password
> Years on air as host: 1975-2009
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,597,879

From appearing as Joey Bishop’s sidekick on a talk show in the 1960s to co-hosting daytime chat shows such as “Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee,” Regis Philbin has been a television institution. He was the first host of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” which became a primetime hit, and he also helmed the entertainment competition program “America’s Got Talent.”

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment

18. Jill Wagner (1979-)
> Notable game shows: Wipeout
> Years on air as host: 2008-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,686,612

Besides starring in MTV’s hit series Teen Wolf (2011) and appearing in a slew of Hallmark Channel films, the highly recognizable Wagner has hosted the reality series “Wipeout” for seven seasons. In the game show she provides commentary and interviews contestants competing on an obstacle course.

Source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

17. Anthony Anderson (1970-)
> Notable game shows: To Tell the Truth
> Years on air as host: 2016-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,758,717

Anthony Anderson is a familiar face on primetime television as a recurring character on the sitcom “Black-ish.” He’s also appeared on the big screen in the Scary Movie franchise and the Martin Scorsese-directed “The Departed.” Anderson has served as host for the rebooted game show “To Tell the Truth.”

Source: Charley Gallay / Getty Images

16. Jane Lynch (1960-)
> Notable game shows: Hollywood Game Night
> Years on air as host: 2013-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,912,841

Actor Jane Lynch reached stardom for her role as the bullying cheerleading coach on the series “Glee.” Lynch has been the host of “Hollywood Game Night,” in which two teams of celebrities and contestants compete for cash prizes. Lynch has been rumored to succeed Alex Trebek as the next host of “Jeopardy!”

Source: Photo by ABC Television / Fotos International / Getty Images

15. Richard Dawson (1932-2012)
> Notable game shows: Masquerade Party, Family Feud
> Years on air as host: 1974-1995
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,066,481

British import Richard Dawson became known to American audiences as a wisecracking English prisoner of war in the 1960s sit-com “Hogan’s Heroes.” He built on that recognition by becoming a panelist on “Match Game” in the early 1970s, before landing the job as the original host of “Family Feud” in 1976. Dawson, who raised some eyebrows for kissing the female contestants, hosted the hit show until 1985, and returned to helm the program in 1994-1995.

Source: John Sciulli / Getty Images

14. Aisha Tyler (1970-)
> Notable game shows: Whose Line Is It Anyway?
> Years on air as host: 2013-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,134,703

Actress and comedian Aisha Tyler has been the host of the reboot of the comedy improvisational show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” since 2013. Tyler appeared in the first season of “Ghost Whisperer” (2005) and voiced the character Lana Kane in “Archer” (2009). She has also had a recurring role on the series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

Source: Gregg DeGuire / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

13. Howie Mandel (1955-)
> Notable game shows: Deal or No Deal, Deal or No Deal Canada, Take It All
> Years on air as host: 2005-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,334,003.

Canadian-born comedian Howie Mandel hosted 232 episodes of the game show “Deal or No Deal,” which is modeled on a Dutch game show. The primetime game show debuted on American television in 2005. Mandel has been nominated for a daytime and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host.

Source: Michael Buckner / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

12. Drew Carey (1958-)
> Notable game shows: Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Power of 10, The Price Is Right
> Years on air as host: 1998-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,388,973

Comedian Drew Carey, with his trademark Buddy Holly glasses, has had much success on television with his sitcom “The Drew Carey Show” and as host of game shows “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, a comedy improvisational program, and “The Price Is Right.” Carey holds the record for the most money won on the celebrity version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” winning $532,000 on two appearances on the show.

Source: Rich Fury / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

11. Liza Koshy (1996-)
> Notable game shows: Double Dare
> Years on air as host: 2018-2019
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,502,963

Liza Koshy, the youngest person on the list, is a YouTube comedian and actress who has been cited by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential people on the internet. She appeared on the social platform Vine and amassed over 5 million fans with a series of 6-second videos. After Vine shut down in 2017, her fans followed her to YouTube and she has gained more than 17 million subscribers. Koshy has co-hosted the return of the game show “Double Dare,” with TV veteran Marc Summers, on Nickelodeon. On “Double Dare,” contestants answer trivia questions, face physical challenges, and take on an obstacle course.

Source: Amanda Edwards / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

10. Bob Barker (1923-)
> Notable game shows: Truth or Consequences, Family Game, The New Price Is Right/The Price Is Right
> Years on air as host: 1956-2007
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,524,349

Bob Barker hosted “The Price Is Right” from 1972 to 2007. Along the way, Barker won 15 Emmys, 12 of them for Outstanding Game Show Host, which has been awarded since 1974. When Barker retired in 2007, “The Price Is Right” had become the longest-running daytime game show in history as well as the first hour-long game show on television. The jovial quizmaster also hosted the game show “Truth or Consequences” from 1956 to 1974. Barker is also known as a passionate animal rights activist.

Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

9. Ryan Seacrest (1974-)
> Notable game shows: Gladiators 2000, Wild Animal Games, Click, American Juniors, The Million Second Quiz
> Years on air as host: 1994-2013
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,656,989

Television viewers know Ryan Seacrest as co-host of “Live!” with Kelly Ripa, as well as for his hosting duties on the music competition show “American Idol.” He also is an executive producer for the programs such as “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.” Seacrest was host of the short-lived game show “TRyan Seacrest,” which aired in September 2013.

Source: Baby, Newborn, Hand, Pregnant, Sleeping

8. Wayne Brady (1972-)
> Notable game shows: Celebrity Duets, Don’t Forget the Lyrics!, Let’s Make a Deal
> Years on air as host: 2006-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,748,084

Affable comedian Wayne Brady was a regular participant on the improvisational comedy television series “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” He was also the first host of the game show “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” from 2007 to 2009. Since 2009 he has hosted the revived version of “Let’s Make a Deal.” Brady made history in 2002 when he became the first African American to host the Miss America beauty pageant.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

7. Johnny Carson (1925-2005)
> Notable game shows: Earn Your Vacation, Do You Trust Your Wife?/Who Do You Trust?
> Years on air as host: 1954-1962 sb
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,842,172

Before he became the king of late-night television, Johnny Carson was the host of the game show “Who Do You Trust?” (the original title was “Do You Trust Your Wife”) from 1957 to 1962, in which married couples were asked a trivia question and the husband decided which of the two would answer it. Carson was also a panelist on game shows such as “What’s My Line?” and “To Tell the Truth.”

Source: Mark Davis / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

6. Michael Strahan (1971-)
> Notable game shows: The $100,000 Pyramid
> Years on air as host: 2016-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 3,176,657

Michael Strahan has become a familiar face on television following his Hall of Fame career as a defensive lineman for the NFL’s New York Giants. In addition to co-hosting “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” Strahan has handled the hosting job of “The 100,000 Pyramid” since 2016. Contestants are paired with celebrities and try to guess words or phrases on a pyramid-shaped game board to win money.

Source: Amanda Edwards / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

5. Pat Sajak (1946-)
> Notable game shows: Wheel of Fortune, College Bowl
> Years on air as host: 1981-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 3,738,586

When it comes to longevity, nobody tops Pat Sajak, who has been host of “Wheel of Fortune” since 1983 (his letter-turning associate Vanna White has been on the show for the same length of time). On “Wheel of Fortune,” one of many game shows created by Merv Griffin, three contestants try to solve a puzzle by spinning a wheel, whose arrow might land on prizes, and they guess letters in a word or phrase.

Source: Shutterstock ID: 1505212910, Photographer: salilbhatt

4. Steve Harvey (1957-)
> Notable game shows: Family Feud, Celebrity Family Feud
> Years on air as host: 2010-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 4,138,101

Genial comedian Steve Harvey has hosted the venerable “Family Feud” game show since 2010 and helmed a spinoff, “Celebrity Family Feud.” Prior to his game-show stints, Harvey hosted the entertainment competition show “Showtime at the Apollo” from 1993 to 2000. He starred in “The Steve Harvey Show,” a sitcom that ran from 1996 to 2002.

Source: Jason Kempin / Getty Images

3. Jamie Foxx (1967-)
> Notable game shows: Beat Shazam
> Years on air as host: 2017-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 5,306,677

Jamie Foxx is the only game show host who has won an Academy Award. Foxx took home the golden statue for Best Actor in 2005 for his portrayal of musician Ray Charles.The multi-talented Foxx — actor, singer, songwriter, record producer and comedian — has been host of the game show “Beat Shazam” since 2017. “Beat Shazam” is an updated version of “Name That Tune,” in which three pairs of contestants try to beat the computer “Shazam” to identify song titles in the shortest time period.

Source: Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images

2. Alex Trebek (1940-)
> Notable game shows: Reach for the Top, The Wizard of Odds, High Rollers, Double Dare, The $128,000 Question, Pitfall, Battlestars, Jeopardy!, Classic Concentration, Super Jeopardy!, To Tell the Truth
> Years on air as host: 1966-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 6,039,468

Few game show hosts can match the resumé and longevity of Canadian-born Alex Trebek, whose career spans more than 50 years. Trebek has been the host of “Jeopardy!,” a game show that has become a cultural totem, since 1984. Trebek himself has become a television icon, lampooned by comedian Will Ferrell on “Saturday Night Live.” Trebek, who turned 80 on July 22, has been waging a public battle with pancreatic cancer for more than a year. Trebek said earlier this month that he was doing well and looking forward to returning to work.

Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

1. Ellen DeGeneres (1958-)
> Notable game shows: Ellen’s Game of Games
> Years on air as host: 2017-present
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 8,646,063

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres has become a fixture on television as a talk-show guest and host, game show host, and producer. DeGeneres has been the host of “Ellen’s Game of Games” since 2017. Many of the games on the game show were played on her talk show. She’s been the host of her own talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” since 2003. Known for her effusive, fun-loving personality, DeGeneres has also hosted the Academy Awards, the Grammys, and the Emmys. Her public image has taken a beating lately over accusations by former employees that her show has created a “toxic” work environment.

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