Trailblazing television icon John Barbour, celebrated as a pioneer of reality TV, passed away from natural causes at the age of 93 on Sunday, May 10, at his Las Vegas home, as confirmed by his family. Barbour was the creative force behind the groundbreaking 1970s show “Real People,” a program credited with launching the reality TV genre. The show inspired numerous successors, including “That’s Incredible!” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” Featuring a panel of hosts such as Sarah Purcell, Byron Allen, Skip Stephenson, Mark Russell, Peter Billingsley, and Fred Willard, “Real People” presented pre-recorded segments showcasing quirky and unusual individuals, a format that remains popular today.
Born in Toronto, Barbour’s career began in stand-up comedy, leading to numerous appearances on television programs hosted by legends like Steve Allen, Joey Bishop, and Dean Martin. His talents also earned him prestigious spots as the opening act for performers Robert Goulet and Bobby Darin in Las Vegas.
Barbour also ventured into recording, releasing two comedy albums. His 1965 album, “It’s Tough to Be White,” tackled themes of civil rights and race relations, while his 1978 album, “I Met a Man I Didn’t Like,” featured liner notes by renowned playwright Neil Simon.
However, it was television where Barbour truly left his mark. In 1971, he hosted a local daytime talk show on CBS-owned KNXT (now KCBS-TV) in Los Angeles. He later served as a co-host of “AM Chicago” on ABC-owned WLS-TV in 1978.
The versatile Barbour also explored acting, appearing in popular shows such as “Get Smart,” “Ironside,” “The Odd Couple,” “Sanford and Son,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and “Breaking Bad.”
Int he 198s he also turned his hand to documentaries producing and narrating 1982’s Ernie Kovacs: Television’s Original Genius. In 1992 he won the prize for best documentary at the San Sebastian Film Festival for his acclaimed work The JFK Assassination: The Jim Garrison Tapes, which profiled the New Orleans district attorney and his murder investigation. He wrote and directed a sequel in 2017 – The American Media and the Second Assassination of John F. Kennedy.
In 2019 he published his autobiography, Your Mother’s Not a Virgin: The Bumpy Life and Times of the Canadian Dropout Who Changed the Face of American TV!
Tributes flooded in for the star as the news of his death became public. On Facebook one fan wrote: “Watched Real People every week with him, Sarah Purcell , Skip Stevenson, and a very young Byron Allen the soon to be “replacement” for Colbert. RIP.” another added: “I’ll never forget Real People on NBC. No one believed in the show and then it became a hit and inspired an ABC knockoff, That’s Incredible!”
A third chimed in: “Another devastating loss this week, John Barbour. John created the show Real People, which used to air just before That’s Incredible. I was fascinated with both shows and was glued to the television every week… John also played a very important role in supporting his friend, Jim Garrison, which cost him greatly, but he stood strong and I admire him for that…” Meanwhile a fourth shared: “I am so very saddened by the loss of John… he was a true friend at a time in my life when I really needed one. He was so unique and so kind. I will miss him dearly.”