Joe Farago

Joseph Michael Farago (January 28, 1948 – March 23, 2025) was an American actor, stuntman, game show host, and television personality. His movie roles include The Terminator and The Abyss (directed by James Cameron) and The Rookie (directed by Clint Eastwood). Stunt work included Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and I, the Jury. Farago also costarred in Seinfeld, Married... with Children, and Coach.

In 1985, he replaced Gene Rayburn as the host of the game show Break the Bank, having previously appeared as a celebrity guest three times during the show's first two weeks. He hosted more than 160 episodes as well as the 1990-91 HBO comedy show Night Rap with guests including Timothy Leary, Ed Koch, G. Gordon Liddy and Mel Brooks.

Farago appeared as a host for QVC as well as acting/hosting roles and voice work for dozens of radio/TV commercials including McDonald's, GT Xpress, Xpress Redi Set Go, Q Grill The True Sleeper, T-Fal cookware and The Bissell Big Green Clean Machine. He hosted 35 infomercials seen in more than 70 countries around the world, topping over 1 billion in infomercial sales.

In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, Farago became a firefighter in Idaho. When asked why he left Hollywood to become a firefighter, Joe simply responded, ‘Well, I never pulled up to a burning building and had someone say, “Thank God, an actor showed up!"

Filmography Joe Farago Film resume included The Terminator (1984), The Abyss (1989), The Rookie (1990), Guilty as Charged (1991), Silent Rage (1982) and acting/stunt work in I, the Jury (1982) and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).

Farago also appeared in television series such as Seinfeld (1991), Coach (1990) and Married... with Children (1989). He anchored the comedy series Night Rap from 1990-1991 and costarred in T. J. Hooker (1985). Other television appearances include Quantum Leap (1989), L.A. Law (1991), Adam-12 (1990), Perry Mason, From the Earth to the Moon (1998) and Knots Landing.