Jim Lange | |
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Lange in 1971
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Born |
James John Lange August 15, 1932 Saint Paul, Minnesota |
Died | February 25, 2014 Mill Valley, California |
(aged 81)
Cause of death | Heart attack |
Occupation | TV presenter/Game show presenter |
Years active | 1965–2005 |
Spouse(s) | Fay Madigan (1953–1975) Nancy Fleming (1978–2014, his death) |
Children | 3 |
James John "Jim" Lange (/læŋ/; August 15, 1932 – February 25, 2014) was an American game show host and disc jockey. He was known to listeners in the San Francisco and Los Angeles radio markets with stints at several stations in both markets, racking up over 45 years on the air. Lange was also known to television viewers as the host of several game shows, including The Dating Game.
Lange began his radio broadcasting career in the Twin Cities after winning an audition as a teenager. He graduated from Saint Thomas Academy, going on to the University of Minnesota on a scholarship from the Evans Scholars Foundation.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota and serving in the Marines, Lange moved to San Francisco. After making his Bay Area broadcast debut as "The All-Night Mayor" on KGO, he moved to afternoons on KSFO in 1960.
Lange's network television career began in San Francisco with The Ford Show in 1962, where he was the announcer for, and sidekick to, host Tennessee Ernie Ford. Three years later he would sign on to host The Dating Game. While still on-air at KSFO, he commuted to Los Angeles to tape the TV program.