'Saturday Night Live' Announcer Don Pardo Dead at 96

Saturday nights will never be the same again.

Don Pardo, the longtime announcer for Saturday Night Live, has died at age 96. NBC confirmed the news in a press release Monday night.

Pardo had an incredible 60 year career, lasting from 1944-2004, at which point he went into semi-retirement. As the voice of Saturday Night Live, Pardo introduced the cast, band, host, and musical guest over the opening credits in his distinctive, mellifluous radio voice, becoming every bit as much an SNL staple as the cast members themselves. Pardo's trademark voice has been applied to every facet of entertainment, from radio work, to news reporting during World War II, and even the early age of television: Pardo was the very first announcer for The Price Is Right in 1956, and would go on to be a featured voice in a number of well-known game shows such as Jeopardy!, Jackpot!, and Winning Streak. Pardo was such an iconic figure in the television landscape that he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2010.

After his semi-retirement in 2004, Pardo continued his SNL announcing duties from his home in Arizona. He's essentially been with SNL since the beginning, having missed only the show's seventh season, meaning his tenure is even longer than series creator/showrunner Lorne Michaels, who briefly stepped away for five seasons.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Pardo's family and friends at this time. The man led an outstanding a career, and as evidenced by the amount of respect he engendered within the entertainment community, was a wonderful man to know. He will be missed.

R.I.P. Don Pardo

H/T: TVLine

Credit: NBC Universal