Jan Murray

 Jan Murray, born Murray Janofsky (October 4, 1916 – July 2, 2006)

Murray was a stand-up comedian, actor, and game show host who originally made his name on the Borscht Belt and later was known for his frequent television appearances over several decades. During the 1930s, he entertained at the "Borscht Belt" Catskills resorts popular with Jewish vacationers. In the 1940s and early 1950s, he became a Las Vegas marquee performer, including headlining at the Flamingo Hotel during its first year of operation. Starting in the late 1940s, Murray moved into television, appearing several times on Texaco Star Theater hosted by Milton Berle, and later as a guest on comedy/ variety programs hosted by Jerry Lewis, Steve Allen, Garry Moore, Dean Martin, and Jackie Gleason, among others. During the 1950s and 1960s, he made numerous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show (including several as guest host), and The Joey Bishop Show (including several as guest host). Between 1966 and 1980, he was a regular panelist on The Hollywood Squares, appearing in nearly 250 episodes. He appeared as a participant on many game shows that featured celebrities, including Funny You Should Ask, Match Game, Celebrity Bowling, Celebrity Sweepstakes, and Break the Bank (1976).

From the 1960s through the 1980s, Murray had acting roles in episodes of many TV comedy and drama series, including Dr. Kildare, The Lucy Show, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Name of the Game, Love, American Style, Mannix, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Fantasy Island, The Fall Guy, and Hardcastle and McCormick. Murray also occasionally acted in films, including Of Love and Desire (1963), Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965), The Busy Body (1967), Tarzan and the Great River (1967), among other movies. Murray retired from show business at the age of 83, as he felt his asthma was affecting his timing. He died at the age of 89 in Beverly Hills, California, on July 2, 2006. He is interred at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California.