Press Your Luck host Peter Tomarken killed in plane crash at 63

[Rain Man]

Peter Tomarken, host of the popular 80s game show "Press Your Luck" ("big bucks no whammies!") was killed when the plane Tomarken was piloting crashed into the Santa Monica Bay. Him and his wife was transporting a needy medical patient to UCA while volunteering for Angel Flight, a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation to needy medical patients requiring treatment.

In reading how this plane crash occured, I cannot help but think how similar this was to R&B singer Aaliyah's passing.

Full story here



In Loving Memory of
Peter David Tomarken

1942-2006

[9dstpm]

I was sooo sad when I read about his passing. I wanted to watch Press Your Luck but it's not on basic cable here. I have to upgrade to digital cable to get GSN. Damn you, Comcast!! RIP, Peter Tomarken.

[Boom_Quack13]

I saw this on the news this morning. It was quite sad. I'm sure that he and his wife are in a much better place. They were truly wonderful people, by all accounts.

RIP

[Honeykiss1974]

and they died while trying to help someone else.

May God comfort the Tomarken family during this time.

[Rain Man]

Here are some pics of Peter Tomarken on "Whammy" and "Press Your Luck"






And two of my favorite video clips:

This one is one where he "pays his respects" to the wardrobe man because "the Whammies ate him". Great closeup shot of the PYL board in motion.

RIP Wardrobe Man

While this isn't a Tomarken clip per se, it is nonetheless worthy of mention: this clip involves two contestants pressing their luck with one spin and passing that one spin back and forth to each other (often referred to as a "spin battle"). And there was close to $50,000 on the line between the two of them. A VERY exciting clip.

Mother of All Spin Battles

I have a homemade "Press Your Luck" game on my computer which plays almost identical to the actual show with actual graphics, fonts, voice and other SFX and even Peter Tomarken "hosting" the show via SFX. I am a bit saddened to hear his voice now as I play along. But that's ok, because he's at a place where the Whammies can't go.

RIP Peter.

[jitterbug13]

As a child, this was one of my favorite game shows. And it still is. I catch reruns on GSN every once in a while.

I was very sad to hear about Peter and his wife's passing. RIP and condolences to the family.

[fun4real]

I loved his show. I saw a blurb about this on a ticker and never heard anything else. How unfortunate.

[jitterbug13]

This past Sunday, GSN did a "Press Your Luck" marathon in tribute to him. The last show had Jenny Jones (former talk show host) as a contestant!

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by jitterbug13
This past Sunday, GSN did a "Press Your Luck" marathon in tribute to him. The last show had Jenny Jones (former talk show host) as a contestant!

[hijack]Jenny Jones was no stranger to the game show circuit. She was also a contestant on Match Game back in 1981[/hijack]