Peter Tomarken

Birth Name:

Peter David Tomarken

Birth Place:

Olean, New York, United States

Profession

Actor, Producer, Writer

He was the first on-air personality to appear on camera on the Game Show Network when it launched on Dec․ 1, 1994
He was volunteering for Angel Flight West, a non-profit organization that provides free air transportation to medical patients in need, when his plane went down on the way to the UCLA Medical Center
Graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in English
Started out as a magazine editor and later found work as an ad executive, where he would get his first television exposure as a spokesperson for his firm
He made two unsold game show pilots, "Rodeo Drive" and "Duel in the Daytime," before getting his first big hosting gig on "Hit Man" in 1983
Best known as the host of the game show "Press Your Luck" from 1983 to 1986
Was also an actor and made several TV guest appearances over the years, including shows like "Ally McBeal," "The Rockford Files," and "A Year in the Life․"
He appeared in the 2003 documentary "Big Bucks: The Michael Larson Story" about a "Press Your Luck" contestant who won $110,237 in a single episode, the only one ever to be shown in two parts
He and his "Press Your Luck" announcer/sidekick had previously worked together on a different game show, 1983's "Hit Man․"
Made a memorable slip-up when he told the contestants on the 1988 game show "Wipeout" to "avoid the Whammy," a reference to "Press Your Luck" which caused him to remark, "I knew that was gonna happen someday!"

Fast Facts