Herb Stempel, whose admission that television game shows were fixed led to a major scandal and congressional investigation, has died. He passed at age 93 on April 7, but his death just recently came to light.
No cause of death was given by his stepdaughter, Bobra Fyne.
Stempel was a contestant on the game show Twenty-One, and became a nerdy star for seeming to know something about everything. The only problem was that he was supplied with the answers in advance, with the promise of winning $25,000 if he kept quiet. The sum later ballooned to just short of $50,000.
When he finally lost, he deliberately gave the wrong answer to a question on film that he knew well. The winner of the evening’s competition, Charles Van Doren, went on to be a TV Golden Boy.
Stempel later taught social studies in New York high school and worked for the city’s Dept.
No cause of death was given by his stepdaughter, Bobra Fyne.
Stempel was a contestant on the game show Twenty-One, and became a nerdy star for seeming to know something about everything. The only problem was that he was supplied with the answers in advance, with the promise of winning $25,000 if he kept quiet. The sum later ballooned to just short of $50,000.
When he finally lost, he deliberately gave the wrong answer to a question on film that he knew well. The winner of the evening’s competition, Charles Van Doren, went on to be a TV Golden Boy.
Stempel later taught social studies in New York high school and worked for the city’s Dept.
- 5/31/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Similar News
28 Years Later confirmed for June 2025 release
- 5/13/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Zombie Sequel ’28 Years Later’ Sets June 2025 Release
- 5/11/2024
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The 5 Best Luca Guadagnino Movies, Ranked
- 5/11/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Apple TV+ Reveals New Trailer for ‘Fancy Dance’ Starring Lily Gladstone – Film News in Brief
- 5/8/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay, Lexi Carson and Selena Kuznikov
- Variety Film + TV
Tribeca Taps Scorsese, Tarantino, Christopher Walken, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, John Turturro, David O. Russell For De Niro Con Event
- 5/8/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Tribeca Sets “De Niro Con” Lineup Featuring Film-Inspired Activations, Festival Co-Founder’s Personal Archive
- 5/8/2024
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Swings to $72 Million at Overseas Box Office, Mighty $129 Million Globally
- 5/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
BAFTA TV Awards: ‘Top Boy,’ ‘Happy Valley’ Win Two Each as ‘The Crown,’ ‘Black Mirror’ Miss Out
- 5/12/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Richard Natale and Tim Gray
- Variety - TV News
Third ‘Downton Abbey’ Movie Set With Paul Giamatti
- 5/13/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
YouTube CEO: It’s Time for the Emmys to Embrace Creators (Guest Column)
- 5/13/2024
- by Neal Mohan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Aida Rodriguez: Unpacking My Childhood Traumas Through Comedy Is Cathartic
- 5/6/2024
- by Aida Rodriguez
- Popsugar.com
How Erik Rivera Uses Comedy to Heal and Help Others
- 5/6/2024
- by Miguel Machado
- Popsugar.com
Ian Lara: Comedy Gave Me the Strength to Overcome My Mother's Death
- 5/6/2024
- by Ian Lara
- Popsugar.com
Sasha Merci: How Comedy Has Helped Me Navigate Depression
- 5/6/2024
- by Sasha Merci
- Popsugar.com
Gina Brillon: The Loss of My Grandmother Pushed Me to Pursue Comedy
- 5/6/2024
- by Gina Brillon
- Popsugar.com
Walton Goggins Found Transforming Into the Ghoul in ‘Fallout’ Challenging: ‘It Was Extremely Uncomfortable’
- 5/13/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Why DeAnne Smith Featured Their Ex-Boobs in Hannah Gadsby’s Latest Netflix Special
- 5/12/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Screenwriting Couple Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver Offer Advice on Breaking into Industry: ‘Try to Make the Stories as Personal as Possible’
- 5/12/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Amy Poehler Wants ‘Inside Out’ Series to Be Like Michael Apted’s ‘Up’ Saga, Show Character Riley as ‘a Young Adult, and a Young Mother’
- 5/12/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Justin Lin Believes Cultural Labels Can Hurt Careers: ‘I Do Think There Are Restrictions’
- 5/12/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Swings to $72 Million at Overseas Box Office, Mighty $129 Million Globally
- 5/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Richard Natale and Tim Gray
- Variety - TV News
Walton Goggins Found Transforming Into the Ghoul in ‘Fallout’ Challenging: ‘It Was Extremely Uncomfortable’
- 5/13/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
The Worst Things Wolverine Has Ever Done: Killing X-Men, Creeping On Mary Jane & More
- 5/13/2024
- by Samuel Stone
- Slash Film
How All In The Family's Norman Lear Tried To Put A Stop To Archie Bunker's Place
- 5/13/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
BAFTA TV Awards: ‘Top Boy,’ ‘Happy Valley’ Win Two Each as ‘The Crown,’ ‘Black Mirror’ Miss Out
- 5/12/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mark Damon, ‘House of Usher’ & Spaghetti Westerns Actor, Dies at 91
- 5/13/2024
- TV Insider
Steve Buscemi Hospitalized After Getting Attacked in Street in New York City
- 5/13/2024
- TV Insider
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Is Dark This Week
- 5/13/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
Skip Intro Podcast
- 5/13/2024
- by Podcast Staff
- Tudum - Netflix