Allen Ludden

Allen Ellsworth Ludden (October 5, 1917–June 9, 1981) was the original host of Password. He was born Allen Packard Ellsworth in Mineral Point, WI. He manned the original program and one of its later incarnations, Password Plus, until 1980, when his health deteriorated. Tom Kennedy succeeded him and remained until that show ended in 1982. While hosting the ABC revival, Allen won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host, and the show itself won for Outstanding Game Show. Allen lost his battle with cancer on June 9, 1981, at the age of 63. He was married to Betty White, whom he met on the original series.