Actor. He is best remembered as the genial host of the television shows, "I've Got a Secret," "To Tell the Truth," and "The Garry Moore Show." Born Thomas Garrison Morfit, he originally worked as a radio comedian and writer under his birth name for WBAL in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1940, he changed his name to Garry Moore, as his original name was considered too difficult to pronounce. In 1949, CBS Radio gave him the "Garry Moore Show," a one-hour daily variety program which became very successful, and led to CBS moving him to television in 1950, with the same "Garry Moore Show." The show ran for eight years, initially for thirty minutes Monday through Friday during the evening, before changing to a one hour, once a week, show in 1958, while also hosting the television quiz show, "I've Got a Secret" (1953 to 1964). As host of The "Garry Moore Show" (1950 to 1958, and 1958 to 1967), he was considered as having one of the better variety shows of the 1950s and 1960s. Regular supporting cast members included Durward Kirby, Denise Lor, and Ken Carson. The show featured a mixture of song and dance routines, and comedy skits. In the last few years, Garry Moore introduced the public to comedian Carol Burnett, who after the show ended, became a star in her own right, hosting "The Carol Burnett Show" for many years. He took over as host on "To Tell the Truth," (1969 to 1977), replacing its original host Bud Collyer, but became sick in 1976, and left the show shortly before Christmas 1976 to undergo surgery for throat cancer, turning the show over to temporary host Bill Cullen. In June 1977, he returned to host the opening show of the 1977 to 1978 season of "To Tell the Truth" only to announce his retirement and to turn over the remaining episodes to host Joe Garagiola. Retiring to Hilton Head, South Carolina, he died there of emphysema in 1993.
Actor. He is best remembered as the genial host of the television shows, "I've Got a Secret," "To Tell the Truth," and "The Garry Moore Show." Born Thomas Garrison Morfit, he originally worked as a radio comedian and writer under his birth name for WBAL in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1940, he changed his name to Garry Moore, as his original name was considered too difficult to pronounce. In 1949, CBS Radio gave him the "Garry Moore Show," a one-hour daily variety program which became very successful, and led to CBS moving him to television in 1950, with the same "Garry Moore Show." The show ran for eight years, initially for thirty minutes Monday through Friday during the evening, before changing to a one hour, once a week, show in 1958, while also hosting the television quiz show, "I've Got a Secret" (1953 to 1964). As host of The "Garry Moore Show" (1950 to 1958, and 1958 to 1967), he was considered as having one of the better variety shows of the 1950s and 1960s. Regular supporting cast members included Durward Kirby, Denise Lor, and Ken Carson. The show featured a mixture of song and dance routines, and comedy skits. In the last few years, Garry Moore introduced the public to comedian Carol Burnett, who after the show ended, became a star in her own right, hosting "The Carol Burnett Show" for many years. He took over as host on "To Tell the Truth," (1969 to 1977), replacing its original host Bud Collyer, but became sick in 1976, and left the show shortly before Christmas 1976 to undergo surgery for throat cancer, turning the show over to temporary host Bill Cullen. In June 1977, he returned to host the opening show of the 1977 to 1978 season of "To Tell the Truth" only to announce his retirement and to turn over the remaining episodes to host Joe Garagiola. Retiring to Hilton Head, South Carolina, he died there of emphysema in 1993.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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