Popular daytime television host, Art Linkletter passed away on May 26, 2010, at the age of 97. He died at his home in Bel Air, California.
Linkletter began his career with radio and soon had his own show, People Are Funny, in 1942, which eventually aired on TV from 1954-1961. The program centered on slapstick humor and audience participation.
His other program, Art Linkletter’s House Party, began on radio in 1944, and also aired on CBS from 1952-1969. A segment of the show involved Linklettter interviewing schoolchildren, which was compiled into the best-selling book, Kids Say the Darndest Things.
After retiring from daily broadcasting in 1969, Linkletter became a highly-requested lecturer and continued to write.
Linkletter’s daughter, Diane, died after jumping off her apartment, which was believed to be caused by LSD. Following this event, he often spoke out against drug use and became an adviser for President Richard Nixon on drug policy.
In 1980, one of Linkletter’s sons, Robert, died in a car accident, and another son, Jack, died of lymphoma in 2007 at age 70. Linkletter is survived by his wife of 75 years and daughters Dawn and Sharon.