Gene Rayburn (December , â€" November , ) was an American radio and
television personality. He is best known as the host of various
editions of the American television game show Match Game for over two
decades.Born Eugen Peter Jeljenic in Christopher, Illinois, the
younger of two children of Croatian immigrants. Rayburn's father died
when he was an infant and his mother moved to Chicago, where she met
Milan Rubessa. After she married Rubessa on November , , Rayburn took
the name Eugene Rubessa /ruË Ëˆbeɪʃə/. He had an elder brother,
Alfred, who was killed when Rayburn was a child, and a younger
half-brother, Milan Rubessa Jr.Rayburn graduated from Lindblom
Technical High School and attended Knox College. At Lindblom, he was
senior class president and acted in the plays Robert of Sicily and
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.An aspiring actor and opera singer,
Rayburn moved to New York City but unable to find stage work, found a
job as an page and tour guide at NBC studios at Rockefeller Plaza.
After three years in that position, Rayburn began announcing at
various radio stations, eventually landing back in New York at WNEW.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in World War II.
Gene chose the stage name "Rayburn" by randomly sticking his finger in
the phone book.
television personality. He is best known as the host of various
editions of the American television game show Match Game for over two
decades.Born Eugen Peter Jeljenic in Christopher, Illinois, the
younger of two children of Croatian immigrants. Rayburn's father died
when he was an infant and his mother moved to Chicago, where she met
Milan Rubessa. After she married Rubessa on November , , Rayburn took
the name Eugene Rubessa /ruË Ëˆbeɪʃə/. He had an elder brother,
Alfred, who was killed when Rayburn was a child, and a younger
half-brother, Milan Rubessa Jr.Rayburn graduated from Lindblom
Technical High School and attended Knox College. At Lindblom, he was
senior class president and acted in the plays Robert of Sicily and
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.An aspiring actor and opera singer,
Rayburn moved to New York City but unable to find stage work, found a
job as an page and tour guide at NBC studios at Rockefeller Plaza.
After three years in that position, Rayburn began announcing at
various radio stations, eventually landing back in New York at WNEW.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in World War II.
Gene chose the stage name "Rayburn" by randomly sticking his finger in
the phone book.
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