Game show host Jim Perry dead at 82

Show host Jim Perry, best known for hosting game shows "Card Sharks" and "$ale of the Century", is dead. He was 82.

Perry died on Friday in Oregon following a five-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his wife and children, reports variety.com.

His family members, in a statement, said: "Today we lost the greatest father, friend and husband anybody could ever wish for, while he provided decades of entertainment to millions of people, his greatest victory was his growth as a human being - rising from a childhood filled with challenges including great poverty, to provide an amazing life for his family. The world is a better place for his having been here."

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in his name to a local hospice provider or cancer charity.

Perry is survived by his wife of 56 years, June, a former model; their children Sean and Erin; and three grandchildren.

He was a basketball star while growing up and was nicknamed 'Big Jim' at 6 ft 4 inches tall. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and joined the Special Services, where he worked on Armed Forces Radio during the Korean War.

After his time in the service, Perry teamed with comedian Sid Ceasar, touring as a pair for several years.

He even served as host of the Miss Canada Pageant, which he emceed from 1967 until 1990; he was the announcer on 1969's syndicated program "That Show", starring Joan Rivers; and from 1969 to 1972, he was a weekend overnight DJ at WABC radio in New York.

In 1974, Perry became the host of game show "Headline Hunters", and then began hosting "Definition," which went on to become the longest-running game show in Canadian television history.