# Gene Wood
**Gene Wood** was the professional name of Eugene Edward Wood (October 20, 1925 – May 21, 2004), an American television announcer and game show host whose voice introduced many of the [Mark Goodson](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-goodson)–Bill Todman game shows of the 1970s and 1980s, including *Family Feud*, *Card Sharks*, *Tattletales*, *Password Plus* and *Super Password*, and *Classic Concentration*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/). He was also one of the few announcers of his era to host his own game show, taking over *Beat the Clock* from 1972 to 1974[2](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Gene_Wood).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Eugene Edward Wood, born October 20, 1925, in Quincy, Massachusetts[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/) |
| Died | May 21, 2004, in Boston, Massachusetts, aged 78[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/) |
| Education | Bachelor's degree in speech and theater, Emerson College, Boston, after Army Air Forces service in World War II[3](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-27-me-passings27.2-story.html) |
| Signature shows | *Family Feud* (1976–1985 and 1988–1995), *Card Sharks*, *Password Plus*/*Super Password*, *Tattletales*, *Classic Concentration*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/) |
| Hosting | *Beat the Clock* (1972–1974) and *Anything You Can Do* (1971–1972)[2](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Gene_Wood) |
| Known for | The calls "ready for action!" and "On your marks, let's start ... the 'FAMILY FEUUUDDD!'"[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/) |
| Later work | Game Show Network voice-overs, 1996–1998[2](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Gene_Wood) |
## Early life and start in television
Wood was born in [Quincy, Massachusetts](https://www.edgepedia.org/quincy-massachusetts), and served in the Army Air Forces during World War II[3](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-27-me-passings27.2-story.html). After the war he earned a bachelor's degree in speech and theater at [Emerson College](https://www.edgepedia.org/emerson-college) in Boston[3](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-27-me-passings27.2-story.html). In a 1996 interview he said he had first wanted to become a doctor, but a lack of finances led him to Emerson instead, where he appeared in productions including *Othello* and *The Taming of the Shrew*[4](https://www.illustriousgameshowpage.com/gene1.html).
After college he moved to New York City, where he performed stand-up comedy, at times working with his high school friend Bill Dana, and wrote for [Bob Keeshan](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-keeshan), television's "Captain Kangaroo"[3](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-27-me-passings27.2-story.html). He also found steady work as a commercial actor; in his 1996 interview he recalled that for seven years he never did fewer than 100 commercials a year[4](https://www.illustriousgameshowpage.com/gene1.html).
## Game show career
**Beat the Clock and early hosting.** Wood's first regular run as a game show announcer, after substitute jobs in the 1960s, came on the 1969 version of *Beat the Clock*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/). He announced the show from 1969 to 1972, then switched to hosting it from 1972 until 1974 after the departure of host Jack Narz[2](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Gene_Wood). He also hosted the first season of the Canadian stunt show *Anything You Can Do* (1971–1972), a battle-of-the-sexes program similar to *Beat the Clock*[2](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Gene_Wood) • [5](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Anything_You_Can_Do).
**The Goodson–Todman years.** He became noted for his introductions of the two families, culminating in "On your marks... let's start... the FAMILY FEUUUUD!"[6](https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Gene_Wood). He also made on-camera appearances on the show, exchanging jokes with the hosts during their opening monologues[6](https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Gene_Wood).
Wood announced both network versions of *Card Sharks*; on the 1978–1981 version with host Jim Perry, his voice read an opening poem over the visuals, a custom later changed to a daily viewer-submitted poem[6](https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Gene_Wood).
**The Price Is Right.** After the death of [Johnny Olson](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-olson) in 1985, Wood was one of the guest announcers who filled in on *The Price Is Right* before [Rod Roddy](https://www.edgepedia.org/rod-roddy) was chosen as Olson's permanent successor[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/) • [6](https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Gene_Wood). IMDb's biography records that he lost the job to Roddy[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/).
## Retirement and death
Wood retired from game show announcing in the mid-1990s and moved to [Rhode Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/rhode-island), settling in Adamsville[3](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-27-me-passings27.2-story.html). After retiring from game shows in 1996, he provided voice-overs for the [Game Show Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/game-show-network) until 1998[2](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Gene_Wood). In his own words, "The shows kept hiring younger announcers for the roles. Eventually I decided to call it a career and relocated back to New England"[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/).
He died on May 21, 2004, at [Massachusetts General Hospital](https://www.edgepedia.org/massachusetts-general-hospital) in Boston, aged 78[3](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-27-me-passings27.2-story.html). The Game Shows Wiki records the cause as lung cancer[2](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Gene_Wood), while the Los Angeles Times obituary reported that the cause of death was not disclosed[3](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-27-me-passings27.2-story.html).
## Personal life
Wood married Carleen Anderson in 1960, and the marriage lasted until his death in 2004[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/). The couple had three children, Timothy, Mia, and Sasha Wood[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/).
## References
1. [Gene Wood – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939712/bio/)
2. [Gene Wood, Game Shows Wiki (Fandom)](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Gene_Wood)
3. [Gene Wood, 78; Announcer for Popular TV Game Shows, Los Angeles Times (May 27, 2004)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-27-me-passings27.2-story.html)
4. [A Conversation with Gene Wood, Part I, Illustrious Game Show Page (1996)](https://www.illustriousgameshowpage.com/gene1.html)
5. [Anything You Can Do, Game Shows Wiki (Fandom)](https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Anything_You_Can_Do)
6. [Gene Wood, Academic Kids encyclopedia](https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Gene_Wood)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Television presenters and hosts › Game show hosts and announcers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license