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.
David Ruprecht | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Martin Ruprecht October 14, 1948 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Television actor and game show host |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouses |
|
Career
editRuprecht 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.
Ruprecht began acting in television commercials in the late 1970s. He 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
editRuprecht 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 1966. 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. He has no children.
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" |
References
edit- ^ "Reliving My Youth – David Ruprecht, host of Supermarket Sweep" – via soundcloud.com.
- ^ Verdino-Süllwold, Carla Maria (2014). "BWW Interviews: The Preacher's Son Plays Reverend Shaw Moore – David Ruprecht". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "What do You Know? – Family Matters | Apple TV". February 28, 1997.