Game Show Host. Born William Lawrence Francis Cullen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He developed polio at the age of 18 months and was left with a permanent limp. He wore a brace on one leg until he was ten. He attended South High School in Pittsburgh. He was in an automobile accident in his junior year of high school, which put him in the hospital for nine months. He later attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied medicine. Bill first got the chance to perform for a radio audience on the "1500 Club," an overnight program on tiny WWSW in Pittsburgh. He began as a frequent, though unpaid, guest on the program, eventually working his way into a position as a salaried announcer. He later moved to the larger radio station KDKA where his duties included hosting a local variety show. He moved to New York City in 1944 and was hired by CBS as an announcer. In 1946, he got his first big break filling in as the host of the radio quiz "Winner Take All." That program was not only notable as the show that launched Bill's career, it was also the first program produced by the new partnership of Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Bill's association with their company would span almost forty years. He married three times in his life. His third wife was Ann Macomber. They married on Christmas Eve, 1955. Their marriage lasted the rest of his life. His greatest success professionally came in the late fifties. He was the host of "Pulse," the four-hour NBC radio program which aired live from 6 to 10 a.m. He also hosted "The Price Is Right," and played "I've Got A Secret" once a week. The rewards of such a busy schedule were enormous. By 1958, he was making $300,000 a year, a fortune at the time, which made him one of the highest-paid TV performers in the country. In the 1980s, he worked for three of the major game show production companies (Goodson-Todman, Barry-Enright and Bob Stewart) even as fewer and fewer game shows were being produced. After his final series, "The Joker's Wild," left the air in the fall of 1986, he quietly retired from television. His last televised appearance was as a celebrity guest on "The $25,000 Pyramid" the following June. In 1990, he learned he had lung cancer. He died of complications from that disease.
Game Show Host. Born William Lawrence Francis Cullen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He developed polio at the age of 18 months and was left with a permanent limp. He wore a brace on one leg until he was ten. He attended South High School in Pittsburgh. He was in an automobile accident in his junior year of high school, which put him in the hospital for nine months. He later attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied medicine. Bill first got the chance to perform for a radio audience on the "1500 Club," an overnight program on tiny WWSW in Pittsburgh. He began as a frequent, though unpaid, guest on the program, eventually working his way into a position as a salaried announcer. He later moved to the larger radio station KDKA where his duties included hosting a local variety show. He moved to New York City in 1944 and was hired by CBS as an announcer. In 1946, he got his first big break filling in as the host of the radio quiz "Winner Take All." That program was not only notable as the show that launched Bill's career, it was also the first program produced by the new partnership of Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Bill's association with their company would span almost forty years. He married three times in his life. His third wife was Ann Macomber. They married on Christmas Eve, 1955. Their marriage lasted the rest of his life. His greatest success professionally came in the late fifties. He was the host of "Pulse," the four-hour NBC radio program which aired live from 6 to 10 a.m. He also hosted "The Price Is Right," and played "I've Got A Secret" once a week. The rewards of such a busy schedule were enormous. By 1958, he was making $300,000 a year, a fortune at the time, which made him one of the highest-paid TV performers in the country. In the 1980s, he worked for three of the major game show production companies (Goodson-Todman, Barry-Enright and Bob Stewart) even as fewer and fewer game shows were being produced. After his final series, "The Joker's Wild," left the air in the fall of 1986, he quietly retired from television. His last televised appearance was as a celebrity guest on "The $25,000 Pyramid" the following June. In 1990, he learned he had lung cancer. He died of complications from that disease.
Bio by: Jane Stacy Eubanks
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