Longtime ‘SNL’ Announcer Don Pardo Dead At 96

It's the end of an era at "Saturday Night Live".

Don Pardo, who for almost forty years introduced countless stars and up-and-coming stars on "Saturday Night Live", died Monday night in Tucson, AZ at the much-too-young age of 96, as confirmed by his daughter.

Mr. Pardo began his career at a radio station in Providence, RI in 1938, and went on to join NBC in 1944, working on various radio programs and serving as a war reporter.

He later moved on to announcing television programs such as "The Price Is Right" and "Jeopardy!" He was also the booth announcer on duty for NBC on November 22, 1963, and the first to announce to those who were watching NBC that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.

Mr. Pardo had been the announcer for "Saturday Night Live" beginning with the show's premiere episode in 1975 and, with the exception of the 1981-82 season, remained with the show up to the end of this past season.

He continued to do introductions for SNL after retiring from NBC in 2004. Mr. Pardo later began recording voice-overs for the show from his home in Arizona.

"Saturday Night Live" and Saturday won't be the same without him. He will truly be missed.