What the Best 80s Game Show Hosts Look Like Today and What They’re Doing Now!

These 10 hosts will always have a place in our hearts, and some are in their 90s and still working today!

By Raquel Lekic Updated: October 6, 2023

George Rose/NBC/Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty

Game show hosts come and go, but they’re never forgotten. Bob Eubanks, Marc Summers, and John Davidson are 80s game show hosts we will never forget — and you’ll be surprised to see what they’re up to now!

When it comes to TV hosts, none are quite as memorable as Peter Marshall, the host of Hollywood Squares, who today is 97 years old! “I think of all the fun we had, and most of these people aren’t still with us,” he told Closer Weekly about the show. “It kind of breaks my heart.”

Another interesting fact about Hollywood Squares you might not have known is that it was responsible for catapulting Burt Reynolds into stardom! “Burt Reynolds was not very well-known when he started the show,” Peter said. “He was so cute on Squares that The Tonight Show hired him and he did the Cosmo centerfold and all of a sudden he was this huge star. He was a really good guy.”

The end of an era? Or just the beginning?

Even in recent days we’ve seen changes to the familiar game show faces we’ve grown to love. In June, Pat Sajak announced that he’d be leaving his position as the host of Wheel of Fortune after 41 seasons. Sajak began hosting the popular game show in 1981.

Suzanne Prete, Executive Vice President of Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television, told In Touch: “As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years. We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season.”

It was soon after announced that he would be replaced by longtime TV personality Ryan Seacrest will be taking the helm, or wheel if you will. (Read more about Ryan Seacrest on Wheel of Fortune).

Here, we take a look back at some of the most nostalgic 80s game show hosts that defined a generation…and find out what they are doing now.

80s game show hosts then and now

Wink Martindale

1998 / 2020 Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc/Getty Images ; Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
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The 89-year-old host, known for his work on shows like What's This Song?, Gambit and Tic-Tac-Dough still enjoys an active career to this day. Wink runs a YouTube channel, has done recent TV and commercial stints and has even continued hosting, his most recent gig being the internationally syndicated The History of Rock 'n' Roll radio show.
Bob Eubanks Today

1968 / 2018 ABC/Getty Images ; Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
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Bob Eubanks, now 85, is known for shows like Card Sharks and The Newlywed Game. He continues to play a role in numerous shows and specials, his most recent being The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story and Big Blast Live to name a few.
Peter Marshall

1980 / 2019 Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images ; Bobby Bank/Getty Images
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Peter Marshall, the original host of Hollywood Squares, is now 97-years-old. Although he's retired from the entertainment industry, you can still enjoy some of his recent work, such as his narration of the Rose Marie documentary film, Wait for Your Laugh.
Chuck Woolery

1978 / 2015 Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images ; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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Chuck Woolery, known for his hosting roles on Wheel of Fortune and The Love Connection, has had an illustrious career in television. He was featured in 2023's The Game Show Show.
John Davidson

1981 / 2021 Ralph Dominquez/MediaPunch via Getty Images ; Bobby Bank/Getty Images
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The 81-year-old That's Incredible! host went on to guest host The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson regularly — 87 times in total. He also hosted a Hollywood Squares and The $100,000 Pyramid revival. In recent years, John Davidson's done some stage work and has continued to take on various TV gigs.
Wesley Eure

1978 / 2019 Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty Images ; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
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Now 72-years-old, Wesley Eure is known for his hosting role on Finders Keepers, as well as roles on Days of Our Lives and Land of the Lost. Today, he's still taking on various TV roles ranging from Sundays with Sid to Meet the Biz.
Vicki Lawrence

1970 / 2023 GAB Archive/Redferns/Getty Images ; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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Now 74, Vicki Lawrence is known for her work on The Carol Burnett Show, and also for hosting Win, Lose or Draw. She is still active in the acting world and recently appeared in shows like The Cool Kids, Great News, The Really Loud House and Call Me Kat.
Marc Summers

2002 / 2023 Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images ; @realmarcsummers/Instagram
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Now 71-years-old, Marc Summers is known for hosting Double Dare. He is also known for hosting Unwrapped later in his career. In 2016, he hosted a 30th anniversary of Double Dare at San Diego Comic-Con. And in 2019, he hosted Double Dare Live, a live, touring version of the show.
Ron Ely

1975 / 2012 Film Favorites/Getty Images ; Tibrina Hobson/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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The 85-year-old Ron Ely was once a very famous actor before moving on to host Face the Music, as well as the 1980 and 1981 Miss America Pageants. He hasn't done much acting in recent years, one of his most recent roles being in 2014's Expecting Amish.
Pat Sajak

1989 / 2021 George Rose/Getty Images ; Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images/Getty Images
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Pat Sajak began hosting Wheel of Fortune in 1983 and only just recently announced that he would be retiring, to be replaced by TV personality Ryan Seacrest.