Chuck Barris, creator and host of 'The Gong Show,' dies at 87

Charles Hirsch "Chuck" Barris, creator of “The Gong Show” and “The Dating Game,” died Monday night at home in Palisades, N.Y., according to a representative of his wife. He was 87.

The popular game show creator, producer and host died of natural causes, the representative said.

It was in 1965 that Barris launched "The Dating Game," which was an instant hit with numerous imitations. Continuing to dominate the TV game show landscape, Barris next introduced "The Newlywed Game," "The Game Game" and a Mama Cass special, among others.

"Those were the happiest days of my life," Barris said in a 2002 interview with The Times. "It was Camelot."

He debuted one of his most successful programs, "The Gong Show," in 1976. Barris also hosted the show while celebrities like David Letterman and Jaye P. Morgan served as judges. It was popular, but many of his shows, like "The $1.98 Beauty Show," were ravaged by critics as demeaning to contestants.

"I took the criticism so hard," said Barris. He wanted them to be fun programs for all to enjoy, but also never wanted those shows - especially "Gong Show" - to be his only legacy.

"I've created hit TV shows, but nothing has been great. I've written rock songs, but I'm not a big music star. I've penned a bestselling book, but I'm not Hemingway or Fitzgerald. I've never saved any lives. It's just middle-of-the-road greatness. So I know what my legacy will be. It's 'The Gong Show' and that's a shame. It's not the legacy I want to have. It gave the impression of me being a clown, a court jester. None of that's true."

In 2016, ABC was considering reviving "The Gong Show" with actor Will Arnett.

Barris is survived by his wife of 16 years, the former Mary Clagett.