Ralph Edwards

Birth Name:

Ralph Livingstone Edwards

Birth Place:

Merino, Colorado, United States

Profession

Producer, Actor, Writer

Helped to found the cancer organization the Jimmy Fund in 1948
Received an Eisenhower Medal for selling half a billion dollars worth of war bonds during World War II
Graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in English
Started out as a script writer for the KROW radio station in Oakland, California
After moving to New York in 1936, he worked as a freelance radio announcer for CBS and NBC and by 1939 was announcing 45 shows a week
Best known as a radio and television host and producer who hosted "Truth or Consequences" and "This Is Your Life․"
Produced more than 20 TV shows with his production company, Ralph Edwards Productions, including "Name That Tune," "Place the Face," and "The People's Court," which he co-produced with Stu Billett
Once suggested to "Truth or Consequences" radio listeners that they should send a penny to a Staten Island woman who wanted to save money for the homecoming of her son, who was a Marine; the woman received 300,157 pennies
His idea for "Truth or Consequences" was so successful that the town of Hot Springs, New Mexico changed its name to Truth or Consequences in 1950
Never appeared as a guest on "This Is Your Life," and informed his staff that he would fire all of them if they ever tried to surprise him

Fast Facts