'The Chase' Full Cast List: Meet Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter and rest of the chasers on ABC trivia show
When it comes to game shows, there is one for every mood. Be it physical endurance shows or trivia shows, here are a wide range of shows to keep you entertained, each more compelling than the other.
While both put you to the test, there is something about trivia shows that truly gives you a competitive edge. And if there is anyone who can vouch for that, it would have to be the chasers on ABC's 'The Chase', seeing that these quizmasters are ruthless and the best of the best! Make way for Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter, James Holzhauer and Mark Andrew Labbett, along with host Sara Haines as they give contestants a run for their money!
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The official synopsis reads: "'The Chase' is a heart-racing quiz show where three competitors must pit their wits and face off against the Chaser, a ruthless quiz genius determined to stop them from winning cash prizes. Each hour-long episode is a fast-paced battle of brainpower, where contestants are challenged to think faster than they ever thought possible to answer up to 166 questions across all topics."
Cast
Ken Jennings
Born Kenneth Wayne Jennings III on May 23, 1974, Jennings happens to be the highest-earning American game show contestant of all time, along with being a host, author, and television presenter. Born in Edmonds, Washington, Jennings moved a lot while growing up, seeing that his father was a lawyer overseas -- he spent 15 years in South Korea and Singapore. He later studied at the University of Washington.
He even served as a volunteer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he briefly worked in Madrid, Spain He later transferred to Brigham Young University. At 74 consecutive wins, Jennings holds the record for the longest winning streak on 'Jeopardy!', along with the record of the highest average correct response. He was defeated on his 75th appearance on the show by Nancy Zerg.
Jennings made a total of $4,522,700 while on the show. He made $2,520,700 over his 74 wins; an additional $2,000 during his second-place prize in his 75th appearance; $500,000 for placing second during 'Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions' in 2005; $300,000 for placing second in 'Jeopardy's IBM Challenge' in 2011, $100,000 for placing second in 'Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades' in 2014, $100,000 out of $300,000 for placing second in 'Jeopardy! All-Star Games' in 2019; and $1 million for placing first in 'Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time' in 2020.
Brad Rutter
Born Bradford Gates Rutter on January 31, 1978, Rutter is a game show contestant, TV host, producer, and actor. He is currently the second highest-earning game show contestant of all time, with a total winning of over $5.1 million. Rutter attended Manheim Township High School in Neffsville, Pennsylvania, where he was on the quiz bowl team.
His first appearance on 'Jeopardy!' was in October 30, 2000, back when the rules stated that a contestant who won five days in a row would retire undefeated and would return for the 'Tournament of Champions'. He went on to win the 2001 'Tournament of Champions' and bagged the $100,000 prize. He returned in 2002 for the 'Million Dollar Masters Tournament', where he won the $1,000,000.
Rutter made a comeback in 2005 for the 'Ultimate Tournament of Champions' and won, walking away with $2,115,000. This win briefly made him the highest money winner on American game shows, until Jennings took back this title via his appearance on other shows in 2008.
In 2019, Rutter participated in 'Jeopardy! All-Star Games', teaming up with champions Larissa Kelly and Dave Madden. He was the team captain and they split the $1,000,000 prize. He participated in 'Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time' event in January 2020 against Jennings and James Holzhauer, and came in third, winning $250,000.
James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer was born and raised in Naperville, Illinois. His grandmother was Japanese and didn't speak much English, but Holzhauer promised her that he would appear on 'Jeopardy!' before she died. He was gifted when it came to math and at the age of four, his teacher developed advanced classwork just for him.
Holzhauer was a member of the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Team. They won the state competition with Holzhauer bagging first place in physics and second in math. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 2005. The third highest earning game show contestant of all time, Holzhauer has a winning streak of 32 games on the show.
Over his 33 appearances on the show, Holzhauer has won $2,464,216. During the 'Tournament of Champions', he won $250,000 and during the 'Greatest of All Time Tournament', he bagged the runner-up prize of $250,000. Holzhauer also set the single-game winnings record, having won $131,127.
Mark Andrew Labbett
Mark Andrew Labbett was born in Devon, The UK, on August 15, 1965, to Carolyn and Jon Labbett. The oldest of three siblings, Labbett earned his Master of Arts degree in mathematics from Exeter College, Oxford, as well as a postgraduate certificate in secondary education from the University of Exeter. He also has legal CPE and LPC qualifications from the University of Glamorgan. Labbett's gameshow run began he appeared on 'Mastermind' in 1999. He appeared again on the show again in 2000. That same year, he competed on 'Countdown' and nearly lost. He also appeared on 'Stake Out' and 'Grand Slam'.
In 2004, he won £500 ($707) on 'BrainTeaser', later won £1,500 ($2,123) on BBC One's 'SUDO-Q'. He appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? During his second run, he won £32,000 ($45,299). In 2005, he also won £32,000 ($45,299) on 'Millionaire Live'. In 2009, Labbett was one of the chasers on the UK version of 'The Chase'. It's here he earned the nickname, 'The Beast' on account of his stature and surname, which sounds like the word beast in French. He joined the American version of the show in 2013.
Sara Haines
A TV host and a journalist, Sara Haines worked on shows such as 'The View' and 'Strahan, Sara and Keke' and as a correspondent on Today, ABC News, and 'Good Morning America'. Haines was correspondent for 'Good Morning America' back in 2013 and then went on to join the 'The View' for its 22nd season.
The newest season of 'The Chase' premieres on Sunday, June 6, at 9 pm ET on ABC.