Television Producer. Along with his business partner Bill Todman, they created Goodson-Todman Productions and specialized in early television game shows from 1948 until 1982. Born to Russian immigrant parents, he attended the University of California at Berkeley, graduating in 1937 with an Economics degree and began working as a radio disc jockey in San Francisco, California. In 1948 he teamed up with Bill Todman with their first television game show "Winner Take All" that debuted on CBS in July 1948. Other television game shows soon followed, including "It's News To Me," "The Price Is Right," "To Tell the Truth," "What's My Line?," "Double Dare," "Say When!!," "I've Got a Secret," "Match Game," "Play Your Hunch," "Family Feud," "Password," "Beat the Clock," "Card Sharks," and "Tattletales." His production company was also involved with the drama westerns "Jefferson Drum" (1958 to 1959), "The Rebel" (1959 to 1961), and "Branded" (1965 to 1966). After Bill Todman died in 1979, he acquired Todman heirs' share of the company and in 1982 he renamed it Mark Goodson Productions. In 1990, he received an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award for Daytime Television and in 1992, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. He died at the age of 77.
Television Producer. Along with his business partner Bill Todman, they created Goodson-Todman Productions and specialized in early television game shows from 1948 until 1982. Born to Russian immigrant parents, he attended the University of California at Berkeley, graduating in 1937 with an Economics degree and began working as a radio disc jockey in San Francisco, California. In 1948 he teamed up with Bill Todman with their first television game show "Winner Take All" that debuted on CBS in July 1948. Other television game shows soon followed, including "It's News To Me," "The Price Is Right," "To Tell the Truth," "What's My Line?," "Double Dare," "Say When!!," "I've Got a Secret," "Match Game," "Play Your Hunch," "Family Feud," "Password," "Beat the Clock," "Card Sharks," and "Tattletales." His production company was also involved with the drama westerns "Jefferson Drum" (1958 to 1959), "The Rebel" (1959 to 1961), and "Branded" (1965 to 1966). After Bill Todman died in 1979, he acquired Todman heirs' share of the company and in 1982 he renamed it Mark Goodson Productions. In 1990, he received an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award for Daytime Television and in 1992, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. He died at the age of 77.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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