John Barbour, the creator, producer, and co-host of NBC's 'Real People' from 1979 to 1985, passed away at age 93 from natural causes at his Las Vegas home, as confirmed by a family spokesperson.
Early Career and Comedy
Born in Toronto on April 24, 1933, Barbour started as a stand-up comedian, earning spots on shows hosted by Steve Allen, Joey Bishop, and Dean Martin. He opened for performers like Robert Goulet and Bobby Darin in Las Vegas.
Barbour released two comedy albums: 'It's Tough to Be White' in 1965, addressing civil rights with liner notes by Dick Gregory, and 'I Met a Man I Didn't Like' in 1978, featuring notes by Neil Simon.
Television Ventures
In 1976, Barbour was the initial host of 'The Gong Show' before Chuck Barris took over. He contributed to the revived 'Laugh-In' in 1977-78 and acted in series such as 'Get Smart,' 'Ironside,' 'The Odd Couple,' 'Sanford and Son,' 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,' and 'Breaking Bad.'
'Real People,' shot in front of a studio audience, showcased unique individuals with interesting jobs or hobbies, becoming a ratings success. Co-hosts included Sarah Purcell, Byron Allen, Skip Stephenson, Mark Russell, Peter Billingsley, and Fred Willard.
Writing and Hosting
Barbour wrote episodes for 'My Mother the Car' and 'Gomer Pyle: USMC' in the 1960s. In 1970, he became the first host of KABC-TV's 'AM Los Angeles,' winning the first of five Emmy Awards and stirring controversy by interviewing anti-Vietnam War figures like Muhammad Ali and Jane Fonda.
He hosted a daytime talk show on KCBS-TV in 1971 and earned further Emmys as a KNBC-TV critic-at-large.
Documentary Work
In 1982, Barbour wrote, produced, and narrated 'Ernie Kovacs: Television’s Original Genius.' His 1992 documentary 'The JFK Assassination: The Jim Garrison Tapes' won best documentary at the San Sebastian Film Festival, praised by Oliver Stone as a complement to his film 'JFK.'
Barbour followed with a sequel, 'The American Media and the Second Assassination of John F. Kennedy' in 2017, and published his autobiography in 2019, 'Your Mother’s Not a Virgin: The Bumpy Life and Times of the Canadian Dropout Who Changed the Face of American TV!'
He is survived by his wife, Sarita, and their son, Christopher.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/john-barbour-dead-real-people-1236595237/
