Game Show Guru's Dark Side
Despite his enormous success as a game-show producer, the late
Mark Goodson battled severe bouts of depression that confounded his family and friends.
"He never felt that people really approved of him," says ex-wife Suzanne on an upcoming A&E Biography (airing June 3). "I think in many ways Mark was ashamed of what he did. He was great at it but he would have rather been a theatrical producer or a movie producer and made great, great important works."
The man behind countless game show hits ? The Price Is Right (hosted by Bob Barker, pictured), To Tell the Truth, What's My Line?, Family Feud, Password, Match Game ? is described as a workaholic who suffered through hypochondria, depression and three failed marriages.
"He took things very deeply," says showbiz pal Betty White, recalling Goodson's deep depression following the 1971 breakup of his second marriage. "He was never one of those nice middle-of-the-road people. Everything went right to the core."
At the time of his death from pancreatic cancer in December 1992, the game show genius was believed to be worth an estimated $300 million to $400 million and had just been inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. "We would have family pow-wows and say, 'If he could only see what we see,' " sums up daughter Marjorie.