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, but he is responsible for creating such iconic TV game shows as 

Barris died of natural causes Tuesday at his home in Palisades, N.Y., according to publicist Paul Shefrin.

In 1962, before his time in game shows, Barris wrote a popular pop song called "Palisades Park." The tribute to the old amusement park in New Jersey was a hit for singer Freddy Cannon.


Barris, a Philadelphia native, also put pen to paper in 1984 for his autobiography: 

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind: An Unauthorized Biography

In it, he claimed to be an assassin for the CIA. The book was turned into a movie in 2002 and was a first-time directing gig for George Clooney.

As far as the CIA assassin claim goes, The Associated Press reports:

"It sounds like he has been standing too close to the gong all those years," quipped CIA spokesman Tom Crispell. "Chuck Barris has never been employed by the CIA and the allegation that he was a hired assassin is absurd," Crispell added.


Perhaps the closest Barris got to working for the CIA was when he was hired by a TV network. According to 

Doreen McCallister

Author

Barris died of natural causes Tuesday at his home in Palisades, N.Y., according to publicist Paul Shefrin. Critics called Barris "The King of Schlock" or "The Baron of Bad Taste."

Game show creator and 'Gong Show' host Chuck Barris dies at 87

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