The MTV Generation lost one of its icons Sunday with the passing of “Remote Control” host Ken Ober. He was 52.
Ober, whose real name was Ken Oberding, was found dead Sunday in his Santa Monica home. According to his agent, Lee Kernis, Ober had been complaining of headaches and flu-like symptoms the night before.
Kernis said the cause of Ober’s death is unclear.
MTV’s first shot at non-musical programming, “Remote Control” premiered in 1987 and went on for five seasons with Ober at the helm. The show also featured several co-hosts – Marisol Massey (season one), Kari Wührer (seasons two and three), Alicia Coppola (season four) and Susan Ashley (season five).
Ober was portrayed as a wannabe game show emcee who hosted the show from his mother’s basement. Contestants sat in seatbelt-equipped lounge chairs while attempting to answer questions from categories with names like “Dead or Canadian” or “Celebrity Cellblock.”
The show also served as a platform for walk-ons by then-rising stars at the time, including Denis Leary and Adam Sandler.
But “Remote Control” wasn’t the only TV listing on Ober’s resume. He also helped produce “Mind of Mencia” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine.”
Ober is survived by his parents and a brother.