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John O'Hurley (born October 9 1956, in Kittery, Maine) is an American actor who is known for his career in soap operas as well as his role as J. Peterman on the hit television series Seinfeld. (The actor currently sits on the real company's board of directors.) He has done a variety of TV commercials (GCI). In 2000, O'Hurley hosted the revival of To Tell The Truth in syndication, which lasted 2 years. In the fall of 2006, O'Hurley will replace Richard Karn as host of Family Feud.

General Info

He attended Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, Connecticut.

He graduated from Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island in 1976. He was the sole theatre major of that class. O'Hurley was the commencement speaker for the college thirty years later in 2006.

In some markets, near the end of the September 20 show, fittingly, there was a current O'Hurley TV ad (for Drive Insurance from Progressive) including his boast that his insurance agent treats him "like the Sultan of Oom Papa Mau Mau!" 1

The 6'4" O'Hurley's characters often project a somewhat pompous and self-important attitude that comes across as comical rather than offensive. He was one of several members of the Dancing with the Stars show who appeared on a Larry King Live interview in July 2005. Regarding the many ups and downs of his career, he said it helps that he does not take himself too seriously.

An unabashed member of Red Sox Nation, O'Hurley had a chocolate-frosted Red Sox cake at his 2005 wedding reception. In addition to his acting skills, he is an accomplished singer/songwriter, and on August 26, 2005 he sang "God Bless America" at Fenway. He is also a Republican and attended the California College Republicans convention in 2005.

O'Hurley was once married to actress Eva LaRue.

O'Hurley is well known in Alaska for a series of radio and television commercials he's done for General Communication, Inc. (GCI), a local telephone company. He also does national commecials for Progressive Insurance. In what must be a first in commercial history, O'Hurley's persona in his Progressive commercials makes fun of his GCI commercials. In the Progressive spot, O'Hurley complains that his agent doesn't always get him the best gigs. He's shown hosting a "Miss Antarctica" pagent in the middle of the frozen wastes. This is an apparent reference to his GCI spots in Alaska, which frequently show him in the midst of barren faux-Alaskan landscapes waxing poetic in J. Peterman fashion. There is nothing to suggest O'Hurley actually dislikes doing spots for GCI in real life, and he's continued to do them for many years.

Dancing with the Stars

He was the runner-up celebrity dancer in the first season of Dancing with the Stars, which aired during the summer of 2005. After fans of the show complained that the final competition between O'Hurley and ABC soap opera star Kelly Monaco was set up so that Monaco would win despite O'Hurley's superior showing (a controversy that O'Hurley did nothing to dispel in interviews afterward), the network announced that O'Hurley, Monaco and their professional dancing partners would face off in a special episode of the series. The "grudge match" was broadcast on September 20, 2005, with results to be announced two days later. Unlike the first episode, the three professional ballroom-dance judges had no say in the outcome — they only offered commentary, and a viewer vote determined the winner. This time, O'Hurley and his dance partner Charlotte Jorgenson emerged as the winners.

Notable roles

Footnote

1 A variation of a nonsense line used in at least three pop songs:
  • Papa Oom Mow Mow, by The Rivingtons, 1962, much of it being that phrase over and over
  • Surfin' Bird, by the Trashmen, 1963, echoing the Rivingtons: "Papa ooma mow mow, papa ooma mow mow..."
  • Elvira, by the Oak Ridge Boys, 1981: "Giddy up, a oom papa oom papa mow mow..."

External links

American game show hosts | American soap opera actors | American reality television stars | American television actors | American voice actors | American musical theatre actors | Family Feud | Family Guy actors | SpongeBob SquarePants actors | People from Maine | Irish-American actors | Famous members of Red Sox Nation | 1956 births | Living people | game show hosts

 

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