David Ruprecht

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David Ruprecht
Born
David Martin Ruprecht

(1948-10-14) October 14, 1948 (age 75)
Occupation(s)Television actor and game show host
Years active1977–present
Spouses
  • Patti Colombo (m. 1988 or 1990)
  • Ann Wilkinson (m. 1983; div. 1987)

David Martin Ruprecht (born October 14, 1948) is an American television and stage actor and game show host, primarily known for his work as host of the Lifetime/PAX game show Supermarket Sweep.

Career[edit]

Ruprecht has hosted the live stage show version of The Price Is Right at casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Mississippi and Connecticut. He has also hosted Family Feud Live. He currently is one of the hosts of The Price Is Right Live Stage Show at Bally's Las Vegas.

Ruprecht began acting in television commercials in the late 1970s. Ruprecht guest-starred on more than 50 television shows, like Three's Company, on which his character married Janet Wood (Joyce DeWitt) in the series finale, HBO's True Blood, and the 1981 TV-movie The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island as Thurston Howell IV, the son of Thurston Howell III. From 1990 to 1992, he played Dan Ryan on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives. He co-starred in the Broadway and Showtime productions of Perfectly Frank and did voice-over work for the 1985 animated series Yogi's Treasure Hunt.

In 1990, Ruprecht began hosting Supermarket Sweep and held the job until the show's cancellation in 2003. He auditioned as announcer for the 2020 ABC revival with host Leslie Jones.

Personal life[edit]

Ruprecht was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a Lutheran minister. He grew up in Florida, and graduated from Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1967. Ruprecht previously served on the board of directors for the Downsize DC Foundation. He is a former Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of California and a long-time member of Rotary International.[citation needed]

He has been married twice. His first marriage to actress Ann Wilkinson ended in divorce. He married choreographer Patti Colombo in November 1988.[1]

He is a practicing member of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.[2]

He currently resides in Northern California with his wife.

Select filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1977 The Rockford Files David 1 episode: "The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls"
1979 Young Love, First Love Wayne TV film
1980 Benson Ed Sherman 1 episode: "Chain of Command"
1980 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo Hal Hendricks 1 episode: "Who's the Sexiest Girl in the World"
1981 The Incredible Shrinking Woman Neighbor
1981 The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island Thurston Howell IV TV film
1981 Harry's Battles Dr. Jorgenson TV film
1982 Quincy, M.E. Dr. Wilkens 1 episode: "The Flight of the Nightingale"
1982 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Kobayashi Maru Captain Voice
1982 Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again Brigham
1983 Fame Bernie 1 episode: "Love Is the Question"
1983 Foot in the Door Gary 1 episode: "Jonah Moves Out"
1983 A Minor Miracle Dickens Alternate title: Young Giants
1983–84 Real People Himself (co-host)
1984 Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour Himself 5 episodes (January 2–6)
1984 Three's Company Phillip Dawson Recurring role (4 episodes)
1984 Airwolf Carlson 1 episode: "The Truth About Holly"
1985 St. Elsewhere Dennis Coler 1 episode: "Whistle, Wyler Works"
1985 Too Close for Comfort Freddie Copperman 1 episode: "Freddie Loves It, We Love It, You're Cancelled"
1986 Riptide Randall Pierson 1 episode: "The Play's the Thing"
1986 Simon & Simon Navy Chief Hansen 1 episode: "A.W.O.L."
1987 Webster Johnson 1 episode: "Secrets"
1987 Talking Walls Alternate title: Motel Vacancy
1987 Small Wonder Zack Davis 1 episode: "TV or Not TV"
1987 Punky Brewster Johnny Prince 1 episode: "The Matchmaker"
1987 Married... with Children Mr. Mallman 1 episode: "You Better Watch Out"
1988 Punky Brewster Mr. Bowen 1 episode: "Radio Daze"
1988 Punky Brewster Minister 1 episode: "Wedding Bells for Brandon"
1988 Matlock Salesman 1 episode: "The Mistress"
1989 She's the Sheriff Psychiatrist 1 episode: "I'm Okay, You're All Crazy"
1989 Moonlighting Police Artist 1 episode: "Perfetc"
1990–95 Supermarket Sweep Himself (host)
1990 Taking Care of Business Yuppie Dad Alternate title: Filofax
1990–92 Days of Our Lives Dan Ryan Daytime serial
1993 Doogie Howser, M.D. TV Interviewer 1 episode: "You've Come a Long Way, Babysitter"
1993 Sisters Host 1 episode: "Different"
1994 Full House TV Announcer 1 episode: "Making Out Is Hard to Do"
1996 Beverly Hills, 90210 Lawyer 1 episode: "The Things We Do for Love"
1997 Family Matters Lee Macnamara[3] 1 episode: "What Do You Know?"
1998 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Dr. Anderson 1 episode: "The Pass"
1998 Working Announcer 1 episode: "The Consultant"
1999 I Lost My M in Vegas Dealer Short film
2000–03 Supermarket Sweep Himself (host)
2000 Family Law Foster Dad 1 episode: "Metamorphosis"
2000 The '70s Middle Aged Man TV miniseries
2001 The Drew Carey Show Inmate/Larry King 1 episode: "Bananas: Part 2"
2003 Finding Home Pastor
2004 Joan of Arcadia Bill Cummins 1 episode: "Vanity, Thy Name Is Human"
2004 The Daze Before Christmas Brandon Taylor Direct-to-video film
2005 That's Easy for You to Say! Brandon Taylor Direct-to-video film
2005 Cold Case Radio Broadcaster 1 episode: "Colors"
2006 The Bold and the Beautiful Judge Bolan 1 episode: "Episode #1.4732"
2008 True Blood Televangelist 1 episode: "Mine"
2013 Mister Scrooge to See You Scrooge
2016 Ultraman X The Movie Narrator (voice) English version
2017 Mercy Christmas Abe Robillard VOD release
2022 Star Trek: Prodigy Kobayashi Maru Captain Archive audio
Episode: "Kobayashi"

2020 The Author, The Star & The Keeper

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Reliving My Youth – David Ruprecht, host of Supermarket Sweep" – via soundcloud.com.
  2. ^ Verdino-Süllwold, Carla Maria (2014). "BWW Interviews: The Preacher's Son Plays Reverend Shaw Moore – David Ruprecht". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  3. ^ "What do You Know? – Family Matters | Apple TV". February 28, 1997.

External links[edit]

Preceded by
Bill Malone
(1965–67)
Host of Supermarket Sweep
1990–95, 2000–03
Succeeded by
Leslie Jones
(2020 revival)