John Barbour, Creator and Host of ‘Real People,’ Passes Away at 93
John Barbour, Pioneer of Reality TV, Passes Away at 93
John Barbour, a key figure in the evolution of reality television, died of natural causes at his home in Las Vegas on May 10. He was 93. Barbour’s family confirmed the news of his passing.
A significant contributor to the early days of the genre, Barbour co-created, produced, and co-hosted the NBC series Real People from 1979 to 1984. The show, executive produced by Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In creator George Schlatter, showcased a mix of entertaining segments featuring individuals with unusual talents and hobbies. It became a blueprint for future reality shows, influencing programs like That’s Incredible!, America’s Funniest Home Videos, and MTV’s Ridiculousness.
Throughout its run, Real People featured various co-hosts alongside Barbour, including Sarah Purcell, Byron Allen, Skip Stephenson, Bill Rafferty, Mark Russell, Peter Billingsley, David Ruprecht, and Fred Willard.
Born on April 24, 1933, in Toronto, Canada, Barbour left high school at 15 to pursue a career in entertainment in the United States during the 1950s. His early work as a stand-up comedian led to appearances on The Dean Martin Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, alongside the release of two comedy albums: It’s Tough To Be White (1965) and I Met A Man I Didn’t Like (1978).
In addition to his work on Real People, Barbour was the inaugural host of AM Los Angeles, earning his first Emmy Award for his contributions. His tenure included interviewing controversial figures such as Muhammad Ali and Jane Fonda, attracting significant public attention. Barbour garnered a total of five Emmy Awards throughout his career, including recognition as the critic-at-large for Los Angeles’ KNBC.
He was also the original host of The Gong Show and made guest appearances on numerous television series, including Get Smart, Sanford and Son, The Liars Club, CSI, and Breaking Bad.
A filmmaker as well, Barbour wrote, produced, and narrated the documentary Ernie Kovacs: Television’s Original Genius and won accolades for The JFK Assassination: The Jim Garrison Tapes, which earned him the best documentary prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival in 1992. In 2017, he directed a sequel titled The American Media and the Second Assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Barbour’s literary contributions included a 2019 autobiography, 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.
