Dominick George Pardo, born on the 22nd of February 1918, was an American radio and television personality who gained fame for being the long-time announcer for “Saturday Night Live.” He passed away in 2014.
So how much is Pardo’s net worth? As of late 2017, based on authoritative sources it is reported to be $15 million, acquired from his years working in both radio and television.
Don Pardo Net Worth $15 Million
Born in Westfield, Massachusetts, Pardo was the son of Dominick and Viola Pardo. His parents were Polish immigrants and were bakery owners. He spent his younger years in Massachusetts, and graduated from Emerson College in Boston in 1942.
Pardo’s professional career actually started in 1938, when he joined the radio station WJAR, an NBC affiliate, and hosted several programs in the show until he transferred to NBC radio in 1944. He worked on the staff behind the scenes in the network, until eventually becoming an announcer on several shows, including “Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator”, “Dimension X”, and “X Minus One”. His early years working in radio helped establish his career and also his net worth.
When the 1950’s came, Pardo transferred to television and began announcing for various NBC and RCA shows. He broke into mainstream fame when he became the announcer of “The Price is Right” from 1956 to 1963, then when the show finished, transferred to another network, he found himself announcing for “Jeopardy!” from 1964 to 1975. Other game shows he announced for also included “Three on a Match”, “Winning Streak”, and “Jackpot.” His transition to television established him as one of the premiere announcers in the industry, and certainly helped raised his wealth.
During his years working on television, Pardo became most known for his work on “Saturday Night Live”. He began announcing for the show in 1975, and his words “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” became an iconic catchphrase from then on. He worked for the show until he decided to retire in 2004. But after a couple of nudges from the show’s producers, he agreed to come back as the announcer of the show, and pre-recorded most of his lines.
Aside from being an announcer, Pardo is also known to have worked with Frank Zappa, and narrated some of his songs. He also had a short stint as an actor and was heard on Weird Al Yankovic’s song “I Lost on Jeopardy”.
In terms of his personal life, he was married to Catherine Lyons from 1938 until her passing in 1995, and together they have five children. Pardo died in his sleep in 2014 at the age of 96 – he worked for “Saturday Night Live” until he passed away.
Television Hall of Fame (2010), Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame (2009)
Movies
Radio Days (1987), Stay Tuned (1992), The Simpsons (2010-2012), The Godson (1998), Dream On (1992), Totally Minnie (TV Movie, 1988), I Lost On Jeopardy (1984, 'Weird Al' Yankovic's music video)
TV Shows
Saturday Night Live (TV Series, 1975-2014), NBC Nightly News, SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (2009), Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live (2005), Wheel of Fortune (1988), The Price Is Right (1956-1963), Winner Take All (1952)
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Trademark
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His voice
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Quote
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[for his famous Saturday Night Live introduction, which is cried out at the end of the cold open skit] Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!
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Fact
1
He became famous for "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!", which was cried out at the end of the opening skit, and then he followed up with announcing the show's title, then names the cast members and musical guest(s) in a voice-over during the opening montage.
2
On May 14, 2009, when he was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame, Pardo suggested that the May 16, 2009, episode of Saturday Night Live (1975) (SNL) would be his last. This turned out not to be true, when he returned to his announcing duties for SNL's 35th season, still flying to New York City once per week for SNL's live broadcast. Beginning with the 36th season, SNL producers relented, and allowed him to pre-record his segments from his Tucson, Arizona home studio, instead of performing live in New York City.
3
As of his death on August 18, 2014, he had been a continuous employee (with the last remaining lifetime contract) of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) for 70 years, 64 days. To express this in another way, he was a continuous employee of NBC for a total of 25,631 consecutive days, since being hired as a NBC Radio staff announcer on June 15, 1944.
4
When he broke his hip in the spring of 2013, he missed two Saturday Night Live (1975) (SNL) broadcasts, late in the 2012-2013 SNL season.
5
To protect his valuable voice, he was known to carry soothing cough lozenges with him wherever he went.
6
Pardo was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, with the other members of the Hall of Fame "class" of 2010.
7
Jimmy Fallon said "Nothing compares to the moment Don Pardo says your name." Maya Rudolph expressed a similar sentiment, "The moment you said my name was the height of my career".
8
He was the son of Valeria/Viola (Rominak) and Domenick J. Pardo. He was of Polish descent.
9
As a staff announcer at NBC on November 22, 1963, he read the first account of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in a voiceover on the NBC Television Network.
10
Was still active in 2014 until the time of his passing at the age of 96.
11
One of two people to have a lifetime contract with NBC. The other was Bob Hope.
12
He semi-retired in 2004 (he could never fully retire, since he had the last remaining NBC lifetime contract), and moved to Tucson, Arizona. But, Saturday Night Live (1975) (SNL) producers convinced him to continue announcing for the show. Thereafter, for every new SNL episode, Pardo was flown from his Tucson home to New York City. In the time since 2004, for a few episodes, SNL producers allowed him to tape announcements from his home. But the producers had a strongly expressed preference to have him in the SNL studio to warm-up the audience and insisted he come to the SNL studio for each new live SNL to announce.
13
On the February 23, 2008 broadcast of Saturday Night Live (SNL), Pardo was brought on camera at the end of the show, which was actually the morning of Sunday, February 24, 2008, he was honored in celebration of his 90th birthday, and blew out the candles on his 90th birthday cake.
14
Joined NBC Radio as a staff announcer on June 15, 1944.
15
His booth in Studio 8H during Saturday Night Live (1975) was located at the exact spot in which Arturo Toscanini used to conduct the NBC Symphony Orchestra on radio from 1937 to 1950 and on television from 1948 to 1950 (the concerts were relocated to Carnegie Hall between 1950 and 1954).
16
Has been the announcer for Saturday Night Live (1975) for every season except the seventh. Thus, he was the person that's been involved with the show for the longest, even longer than executive producer Lorne Michaels who left the show from 1980-1985.
17
He made the opening announcement for J.P.'s "College of 97 Rock Knowledge" on 97-Rock WGRF-FM, a rock radio show based in Buffalo, New York, USA.
18
Announcer for NBC Radio's "The Magnificent Montague" (1950-1951).
19
In addition to being the staff announcer on Saturday Night Live he was also the staff announcer for the Live at Five news program on WNBC-TV Channel 4 in New York City.
20
His middle name is George because he was born on George Washington's Birthday.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Saturday Night Live
1975-2013
TV Series
Announcer / Radio Anchorman / Himself - Announcer
The Simpsons
2010-2012
TV Series
Don Pardo
30 Rock
2009
TV Series
Sid
Histeria!
1998
TV Series
The Announcer for 'Histeria Night Live'
Honeymoon in Vegas
1992
Announcer (uncredited)
Stay Tuned
1992
Game Show Announcer
Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection
1991
Video
Totally Minnie
1988
TV Movie
Announcer
Radio Days
1987
'Guess That Tune' Host
The Sex O'Clock News
1985
Announcer
Celebrity Doubletalk
1967
TV Movie
Announcer (voice)
Standard Oil New Jersey Presents Its 75th Anniversary Entertainment
1957
TV Movie
Announcer
Best Foot Forward
1954
TV Movie
Announcer (uncredited)
The Ford 50th Anniversary Show
1953
TV Movie
Announcer
All Star Revue
1953
TV Series
Announcer
Fireside Theatre
1951
TV Series
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1951
TV Series
Announcer
NBC Presents
1949
TV Series
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection
2003
Video performer: "I Lost On Jeopardy"
'Weird Al' Yankovic Live!
1999
Video performer: "I Lost On Jeopardy"
'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Videos
1996
Video performer: "I Lost On Jeopardy"
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt
2013
TV Series special thanks - 1 episode
Oz
2001
TV Series special thanks - 2 episodes
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Saturday Night Live
1975-2014
TV Series
Himself - Announcer / Himself / Fred de Cordova / ...
SNL Sports Spectacular
2014
TV Movie
Himself - Announcer (voice)
Saturday Night Live: Best of This Season
2014
TV Special
Himself - Announcer (voice)
Saturday Night Live: Halloween
2013
TV Special
Himself - Announcer (voice)
The Oprah Winfrey Show
2011
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Saturday Night Live Backstage
2011
TV Special documentary
Himself - Announcer (voice)
Saturday Night Live Presents: Sports All-Stars
2010
TV Special
Himself - Announcer (voice)
The 19th Annual Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame
2010
TV Special
Himself - Honoree
SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas
2009
TV Movie
Himself - Announcer (voice, uncredited)
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2009
TV Series
Himself - Guest Announcer
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Saturday TV Funhouse
2006
TV Special
Himself (voice)
Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live
2005
TV Special documentary
Himself
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Halftime Special
2003
TV Special
Himself - Announcer (voice)
Saturday Night Live Christmas 2002
2002
TV Special
Himself - Annoucer (uncredited)
Oz
2001
TV Series
Himself
Saturday Night Live Christmas
1999
Video
Himself - Announcer (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live 25
1999
TV Special documentary
Himself - Announcer (voice, uncredited)
The Godson
1998
Himself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1997
TV Series
Himself
Dream On
1992
TV Series
Himself
The 'Weird Al' Yankovic Video Library: His Greatest Hits
1992
Video short
Himself / Announcer (I Lost On Jeopardy) (uncredited)
The Earth Day Special
1990
TV Special
Weekend Update Announcer (voice, uncredited)
The Best of Eddie Murphy: Saturday Night Live
1989
Video documentary
Himself - Announcer (voice, uncredited)
Wheel of Fortune
1988
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Late Night with David Letterman
1988
TV Series
Himself
The Compleat Al
1985
Video
Himself - "Jeopardy!" Announcer
Those Wonderful TV Game Shows
1984
TV Special documentary
Himself - Announcer
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever
1981
TV Special
Himself - Announcer (voice)
News 4 New York
1980
TV Series
Announcer (1980-1991)
Jackpot
1975
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Winning Streak
1974
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Jeopardy!
1964-1973
TV Series
Himself - Announcer / Announcer
Three on a Match
1971
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Eye Guess
1966-1967
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
The Match Game
1964-1965
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
The Price Is Right
1956-1963
TV Series
Himself - Announcer / Himself - Host
Charge Account
1960
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Concentration
1958
TV Series
Sub-Announcer (1962-1963)
Max Liebman Presents: Promenade
1955
TV Movie
Himself - Announcer
Droodles
1954
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Judge for Yourself
1953
TV Series
Himself / Announcer
Choose Up Sides
1953
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Three Steps to Heaven
1953
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1951-1953
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Winner Take All
1952
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Remember This Date
1950
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special
2015
TV Special
Himself - Announcer (In Memoriam)
The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
2015
TV Special
Himself - In Memoriam
The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards
2014
TV Special
Himself - In Memoriam
Mike & Mike
2014
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Jon Lovitz
2005
TV Special
Himself - Announcer (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tom Hanks
2004
TV Special
Himself - Announcer (uncredited)
'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection
2003
Video
Himself - Jeopardy Announcer (I Lost on Jeopardy) (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
2002
TV Series
Himself - Announcer
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Molly Shannon
2001
Video short
Himself - Announcer (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Rock
1999
TV Special documentary
Himself - Announcer
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Mike Myers
1998
Video documentary
Himself - Announcer (uncredited)
'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Videos
1996
Video
Himself - Jeopardy Announcer (I Lost On Jeopardy)
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Robin Williams
1991
Video documentary
Himself - Announcer (uncredited)
The Best of Dan Aykroyd
1986
Video
Himself - Announcer (uncredited)
Known for movies
Saturday Night Live (1975-2014) as Himself - Announcer / Announcer / Dad / Ford Aide
The Match Game (1964-1965) as Himself - Announcer
The Price Is Right (1956-1963) as Himself - Announcer / Himself - Host
Jeopardy! (1964-1973) as Himself - Announcer / Announcer