|
Mark Goodson (January 14, 1915-December 18, 1992) was an American television producer born in Sacramento, California.
Goodson and longtime partner Bill Todman produced some of the longest-running game shows in television history. The long list of Goodson-Todman productions includes Beat the Clock, Family Feud, Match Game, Password, The Price is Right, To Tell the Truth, and What's My Line?
Many of the actual formats were devised by producers working for Goodson-Todman. For example, Bob Bach co-created What's My Line?, Allan Sherman created I've Got a Secret , and Bob Stewart created Password, The Price is Right and To Tell the Truth. But Goodson's knowledge of what made a workable quiz show -- in format AND presentation -- was pivotal to the success of the shows he produced.
The company was renamed Mark Goodson Productions in 1982, following Todman's death in 1979.
Goodson died of pancreatic cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 77 in 1992. Fremantle Media now owns the rights to the Goodson-Todman library of game shows. While The Price is Right and Family Feud continue production to this day, the classic Goodson-Todman shows have seen new life in repeats on Game Show Network.
| 
