Biography

July 23, 1943 · Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

Co-host of "Dialing for Dollars" on Houston, Texas ABC affiliate KTRK-TV during the 1960s.

Hilton got the most amount of on-air auditions in the announcer search on The New Price Is Right (1972) that was meant to replace Johnny Olson. This was because Rod Roddy the producer's first choice and the candidate given the shortest amount of on air audition episodes, did not accept the salary offered to him when he was offered the job and had his attorney negotiate for a deal that was beyond what was budgeted for the job. Rod and his attorney stood firm while Mark Goodson Productions briefly resumed auditions with Hilton, the producers second choice, continuing to fill-in. In 1986, CBS and Goodson ponied up for what became a very lucrative deal after several renewals and Rod remained on the job for a record 17 years until his passing in 2003.

Did not return his role as announcer on the revival of Blockbusters (1987) with Bill Rafferty, because he moved to Sacramento from Los Angeles, for family reasons, hence, the job was given to Rich Jeffries.

When questioned if he ever had moral dilemmas in his work, he replies, "Not really, but I had to turn down a job as head of a state lottery game as well as offers to do cigarette ads. If you know what's right, you won't face a dilemma if you stick with it."