Editing Rod Roddy (section)

==Illness and death==
On [[September 11, 2001]], Roddy was diagnosed with [[Colorectal cancer|colon cancer]], and took a leave of absence to undergo and recover from surgery and [[chemotherapy]], and he returned a month later (though the shows that were taped during his absence did not air until after Roddy returned to work).<ref>{{cite news| title='Price Is Right' Announcer Rod Roddy Dies| url=https://apnews.com/article/0ed39287cb229196e60b3216a39d8969| access-date=June 5, 2021| website=AP NEWS}}{{dead link|date=February 2025}}</ref> A year later, the cancer returned, and Roddy temporarily took another leave of absence to undergo and recover from surgery on September 20, 2002. Again, he recovered within a month.<ref>{{cite news| first1=Ryan| last1=Pearson| agency=Associated Press| first2=Anahad| last2=O'Connor| via=The New York Times| title='Price is Right' announcer Rod Roddy dies| url=https://www.ocala.com/story/news/2003/10/28/price-is-right-announcer-rod-roddy-dies/31283163007/| access-date=June 5, 2021| newspaper=[[Ocala StarBanner]]| language=en}}</ref> In April 2003, Roddy was diagnosed with [[male breast cancer]].<ref>{{cite web| date=October 10, 2011| title=Men Can Get Breast Cancer, Too| url=https://929thebull.com/men-can-get-breast-cancer-too/| access-date=June 5, 2021| website=92.9 The Bull(KDBL-FM)| language=en}}</ref> He underwent surgery and afterwards, experienced major complications. As a result, Roddy was unable to announce for ''The Price Is Right'' for the rest of Season 31. The diagnoses led to Roddy becoming a spokesperson for early detection of cancer in his last years.<ref>{{cite news| title=Price is Right' announcer Roddy dies| url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2003/10/28/price-is-right-announcer-roddy-dies/| access-date=June 5, 2021| newspaper=Tampa Bay Times| language=en}}</ref> In an interview with [[CBS]], Roddy commented to the general public:

{{blockquote|I could have prevented all this with a [[colonoscopy]], and of course, that's the campaign I've been on since I had the first surgery. To everybody out there, get a [[mammogram]]! It can happen to men, too.<ref name=cbsint>{{cite web| url=http://www.cbs.com/daytime/price/about/justin/rroddy_medicalupdate.shtml| title=Rod Roddy Medical Update| website=CBS| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000744/http://www.cbs.com/daytime/price/about/justin/rroddy_medicalupdate.shtml| archive-date=1 October 2007| access-date=15 May 2007}}</ref>}}

Roddy continued to announce for ''The Price Is Right'' until his last hospitalization two months before his death on October 27, 2003, at the age of 66. After his departure from the show, [[Burton Richardson]] and Randy West filled-in. Roddy was replaced by [[Rich Fields]] in April 2004. Roddy's final episode aired on October 20, 2003, one week before his death. Roddy is interred at Fort Worth's Greenwood Memorial Park. He had "Come on Down" inscribed on his tombstone, a phrase popularized by Johnny Olson.<ref>{{cite web| title=Rod Roddy (1937-2003)| url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8037093/rod-roddy| access-date=June 5, 2021| website=Find A Grave Memorial| language=en}}</ref>

Roddy was given a short tribute recorded shortly afterwards as a segment that lasted eighteen seconds, narrated by Barker, which aired before the start of a later episode:

{{Blockquote
|text=As many of you know, we have lost our dear friend, Rod Roddy. Rod's many television friends and all of us associated with ''The Price Is Right'' will miss his splendid talent and his great sense of humor. May God bless Rod.
|author=Bob Barker<ref>{{cite book| last=Nedeff| first=Adam| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJmeDwAAQBAJ&q=As+many+of+you+know,+we+have+lost+our+dear+friend,+Rod+Roddy.+Rod%27s+many+television+friends+and+all+of+us+associated+with+The+Price+Is+Right,+will+miss+his+splendid+talent+and+his+great+sense+of+humor.+May+God+bless+Rod.&pg=PT63| title=This Day in Game Show History- 365 Commemorations and Celebrations, Vol. 4: October Through December| publisher=BearManor Media| date=April 2014| isbn=978-1-5939-3572-6| language=en}}</ref>
}}

Following Barker's tribute is a message saying In Loving Memory of ROD RODDY 1937-2003. [[Craig Kilborn]], then in his final season as host of ''[[The Late Late Show (American talk show)|The Late Late Show]]'', paid tribute to Roddy (a frequent guest and friend of Kilborn's) in a lengthy clip montage to end the October 28, 2003, show.

In a similar manner to the 18-second tribute, Roddy is mentioned a single time in Barker's autobiography, ''Priceless Memories'', when Barker lists the series' announcers since 1972.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barker |first1=Bob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3gwv8Jfdgz0C&q=rod+roddy&pg=PT29 |title=Priceless Memories |last2=Diehl |first2=Digby |date=April 6, 2009 |publisher=Center Street |isbn=978-1-59995-235-2 |language=en}}</ref> However, Barker did speak of Roddy at length for an interview with [[CBS Radio]] the day after his death, including a mention of visiting him in the hospital several days before his death.