| Ross Shafer | |
| Birth Name: | Ross Alan Shafer |
| Birth Date: | December 10, 1954 |
| Birth Place: | McMinnville, Oregon, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Television host, comedian, business speaker/consultant, author |
| Years Active: | 1983–present |
Ross Alan Shafer (born December 10, 1954) is an American comedian, network television host, and motivational and leadership speaker/consultant. He has authored nine business books, and earned six Emmys as a network talk and game show host.[1]
Born in McMinnville, Oregon, Shafer graduated from Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington. As a high school All-Conference football player, he received a scholarship to play linebacker for the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, where he earned a business marketing degree.[1]
Shafer said, "I had trouble finding anything that I was passionate about, or that made me happy." He then opened a "combination pet and stereo store". His first act came in the form of a community play; afterward, he tried out for a stand-up comedy competition.[1]
From 1984 to 1989, Shafer hosted the local Seattle-based talk and comedy show, Almost Live!, and also hosted Fox's late night talk show, The Late Show.[2] [3] [4]
In the 1986–1987 season, Shafer hosted the Canadian game show Love Me Love Me Not. It also aired in the United States on the USA Network and ended after one season of 130 episodes.
From 1990 to 1991, Shafer hosted a short-lived revival of Match Game on ABC.
Ross works as a keynote speaker and leadership coach in the areas of market share growth, customer friction, and workforce motivator.[5]