Television announcer Johnny Olson, 75, whose booming “Come on down!” thrilled game show contestants on The Price Is Right for 14 years, died Saturday of a brain hemorrhage.
Olson’s last show — which will appear on television in about five weeks — was taped Oct. 2. Until last Monday he hadn’t missed a show. His wife said Olson repeated “Come on down” 42,000 times.
Olson, who recently was saluted at the daytime Emmy awards banquet for his 40 years in the entertainment business, had worked on The Price Is Right since its CBS premiere in September 1972. The game series previously aired on NBC from 1956 to 1965.
Olson previously had been the announcer on the Jackie Gleason Show in the 1960s and also served as the backstage emcee for What’s My Line, To Tell the Truth, I’ve Got a Secret and Match Game.
