Johnny Gilbert
Birth Name:
John L. Gilbert
Birth Place:
Newport News, Virginia, United States
Profession
Actor
Fast Facts
- While visiting Jacksonville, Fla․ for a vocal audition, a local agent offered him a job as an emcee for the Sky Way Club, starting his rise to fame as an announcer
- Joined the US Army in 1950, he was cast as the lead in the musical comedy "Xanadu: The Marco Polo Musical," and toured throughout Western Europe, performing for servicemen and civilians
- Has announced for a number of shows, including "The Price is Right," "Wheel of Fortune," and "Jeopardy!"
- When first offered a job as an emcee, he did not know what it meant, seeing as there were no clubs in his home state
- Hosted his own local talk show "The Johnny Gilbert Show," but left on short notice after two years to host the game show "Fast Draw․"