Game Over for Trivial Pursuit Inventor Dead at 59
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Co-inventor of iconic board game Trivial Pursuit dies in hospital, aged 59.
Board game lovers, knowledge seekers and pub quiz enthusiasts mourned the death of Chris Haney, co-creator of the iconic general knowledge game Trivial Pursuit.
Mr Haney died in hospital in Toronto, Canada on Monday at the age of 59, having battled with a long-term illness.
His co-creator and lifelong friend Scott Abbott paid tribute to the inventor of one of the most iconic board games ever made: “He was not a scholar in the conventional sense. That being said, he was one of the most knowledgeable, widely read people I’ve ever encountered,” he told CBC News.
Trivial Pursuit was born over a lunchtime game of Scrabble between Haney and Abbott in December 1979. When conversation turned to an alternative to Scrabble the pair quickly sketched out an idea for a trivia quiz which would rely on a broad knowledge of different disciplines.
Scribbling ideas onto a bar-room napkin, the basic formula for Trivial Pursuit was conceived, including the six categories: arts and literature, sports and leisure, science and nature, geography, history, and entertainment. The wagon wheel design of the board was also roughly decided in this early planning stage before Haney and Abbott decided to raise capital to make their idea a reality.
With $1,000 from friends and colleagues Trivial Pursuit was launched in 1981. By 1984 the game sold 20 million copies in North America alone. “We had no idea just how successful it would become,” added Abbott, “We didn’t realize it would transcend games players and become, with the Cabbage Patch Kids, what Time magazine in 1984 called an American social phenomenon.”
Trivial Pursuit made both Haney and Abbott millionaires. Mr Haney is survived by his wife and three children.
It’s a shame that he did not get to grow old and enjoy some life… 100 is never too young to die.
I remember like yesterday when the game first came out and we couldn’t get enough of it.
My condolences to the family and friends,
Carroll
He must have made a fair wedge from sales of Trivial Pursuit.
My heart goes out to his family and friends. Another great mind gone. May he rest in peace. Prayers going out…
OMgosh dude that looks like fun.
Lou
Trivial Pursuit is still my favorite game – I can’t begin to tell you how many hours I have played it! On long car trips, I have my passengers read cards to me. I am so sad to hear of this great loss. My heartfelt condolences to Chris Haney’s family and friends.
LOL, that looks like fun.
Met Chris in 1988 as he purchased the neigbouring propertie(s), starting with 120 acres. He turned some of his money into 2 high class golf courses in Caledon. His mom passed recently. I heard his share of selling the game was close to $100 million. Too young to go.
Met Chris and Sarah on ship and still have a photo of Sarah and I and Cassie on my bureau upstairs. My condolences. If you read this, Sarah, contact me at bianca@maine.rr.com where I live with my bull terrier Scarlett O’Horror, Bianca being the last one and before that Blanche and before that Cassie. My heart goes out.
Big shame, I’m glad that Chris made a success of it; sorry for his family and friends, one consolation is that they should be comfortable for the rest of their lives. RIP to a genius.