| The Story of Ray Combs |
| Ray Combs came from a large family on the poor side of town. But even when things seemed thier worst, Ray could always be counted on to put a smile on someone's face. But sometime's he would get despondant. He would lock himself away for days at a time in his room, but he always had a dream. He wanted to be a stand-up comic. At a young age, Ray Combs would be asked to his friends birthday party, telling jokes. He always excelled in everything he did. In High-School, he was voted class president, and won all the top honors. When graduated, he felt compelled to answer to a higher power, and volunteerred his services to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. After a few years, he went off to college. His english teacher then told him: "Ray you have to do something with your humor. This isn't just a skill you had in High-School, this is a gift and you need to use it." He wrote to David Letterman, and asked him: "How do I become a successful comic in Hollywood." and David Letterman wrote back and said: "First you move to Hollywood." He took a job as a salesman, and married his sweetheart Debbie. Hollywood was calling. He moved to Los Angeles, but his wife didn't follow with their first son. Ray made a name in show business by doing something unique. He did audience sitcom warm-ups for shows like "Amen" and "Perfect Strangers." He wanted to catch the eye of his idol, Johnny Carson. As he was doing a warm up over on "Amen," Johnny Carson (who had taped The Tonight Show in the neighboring studio of Amen) heard hysterical laughter coming from the set, and finally Ray Combs got his big chance. Ray Combs was an instant smash, and was one of the first people to ever get a standing ovation on their first try. Everything was going his way. But over on the other side of town, CBS was planning a revival of the classic ABC show Family Feud for their daytime schedule. But after 9 years with Richard Dawson as host, the producers wanted a fresh face to greet this old favorite. Producer Howard Felsher was talking to man who he greatly respeced in Hollywood, and he said: 'If you're looking for a guy with a tremendous ad lib sense of humor, you ought to see a guy named Ray Combs." Ray Combs was hired as the host of the show |
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| But around 1993, ratings for the show slipped, after the death of creator Mark Goodson. Jonathan Goodson took over the show, and Felsher, Goodson and Harris Kattleman talked. Goodson said that "if we don't do better in the next year, we're probably not going to get renewed." Felsher asked him what he would do, and Kattleman said he'd bring back Richard Dawson. That was probably the worst, single thing they could do. Within a year, Ray Combs would lose his job, his comedy clubs, and his marriage. |
| He moved from his home and into a small apartment, but things we're just getting started. In 1994, Ray's car was clipped and spun into control. He was rushed to emergency. He would forever be stuck with a back problem. He tried to open another comedy club, but it was quickly shut down. For a man who mad over $6 million yearly as host of the Family Feud was now broke and in debt. The bank foreclosed on one of their homes. But Ray tried to fight back. He tested out a stint for a talk show, but it fizzled. He made numerous appearances on the Game Show Network, but he wasn't the same Ray Combs. Desperate to make some money, he landed a gig as the host of "Family Challenge." But everyone knew, is new show was no Family Feud. Ratings for the show slipped, and in a desperate attempt to boost them, he hosted a special Memorial Day edition of Family Challenge, but he was disjointed saying. "I can't seem to remember the score" or "I'm a little rusty." But it also fizzled, and he was fired from that show too. He then became disoriented. He frantically made a call from his apartment to his wife. He was sobbing and hysterical. Debbie quickly called 911, and paramedics quickly responded. He was treated and released. As Debbie drove him home, Ray leaped from the car at a red light and disappeared behind some houses. A few hours later, he was seen infront of his wife's house. Debbie sent oe of the kids to lock the door, and when he wouldn't open up for Ray, he became hysterical. He bashed his head against the wall, and Debbie called the cops. When they showed up, Ray claimed he had slipped in the Jacuzzi. The police decided that Ray was suicidal and a danger to others and was placed in a 72 observation at Glendale Mental Hospital. Then on June 2, 1996 at 4:00 A.M., Ray Combs, a broken man, cried out for help, and with his last steps approached the closet. He died at 4:07 A.M. as a result of hanging. He left no note. Ray was buried in the nearby cemertery without a tombstone. There was no money left to buy one. One man who donated generously was Ray's idol, Johnny Carson who donated $25,000. Within a year, Debbie Combs remarried and began to put her life back together, as the kids faced the ordeal of having no father. But in the end, Ray Combs will not be remembered for how he died, but for how well he lived. |
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