Jim Lange, former 'Dating Game' host, dies at the age of 81

Jim Lange, the first ever host of the show "The Dating Game," died at the age of 81.

Lange died in his home in Mill Valley, Calif. on Tuesday morning after suffering a heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, who confirmed the news to The Associated Press.

Although Lange was a successful radio personality, he gained more popularity as the host of "The Dating Game," which debuted on television in 1965. He was the host to welcome celebrity guests like Michael Jackson, Steve Martin and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Born Aug. 15, 1932, Lange discovered his passion for radio at the age of 15 after he won an audition at a local station. His big break on television came in 1962 when he was made an announcer and sidekick on "The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show."

In "The Dating Game," a young woman or man questioned three members of the opposite sex in an attempt to determine which one would be the best date for them - all without seeing them.

In one of the episodes of the show that aired in 1972, a young Michael Jackson asked one of his prospective dates: "I've never been out on a date before. What do two kids like us do on a date?" The girl across the room answered: "Well, we'd have fun. We'd go out to dinner, and then I'd go over to your house."

Lange also hosted shows like "Hollywood Connection," "$100,000 Name That Tune" and "The New Newlywed Game."

Lange told the Bay Area Radio Digest many years back that his favorite part of radio was its simplicity, saying "you don't have to worry about lighting directors and cameramen or script writers and all that."