PBA Hall of Famer Randy Pedersen, Voice of Bowling for 25 Years, Dies Suddenly at 64

Randy Pedersen, one of professional bowling's most recognizable competitors and its longest-running TV voice, died Wednesday, September 16, at 64, the Professional Bowlers Association announced.

"The PBA is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Randy Pedersen, who was among the most important professional bowling figures of the past 40 years," the league said in its statement. PBA Commissioner Tom Clark called him "a force, a giant in sports and on TV" and "our voice," adding, "He was my brother. I spoke with so many people today who loved him. There will never be another Randy Pedersen."

A Hall of Fame Career On the Lanes

Pedersen won 13 PBA Tour titles between his first victory at the 1986 AC-Delco Classic and his last at the 2002 Pepsi Open, a win that made him the tour's 24th millionaire at age 40, according to the Daily Mail. His lone major came at the PBA National Championship, which the PBA, bowlinglife.eu, and theunionstar all date to 1987. The Daily Mail's account puts that same win in 1986, a detail that conflicts with the other reporting.

He added a PBA50 senior tour title in 2013, winning the Dayton Classic in his debut on that circuit. A thumb injury in 2015 eventually pushed him out of competitive bowling, according to Hindustan Times, though nothing in the record ties that old injury to his death.

Pedersen was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame, with the PBA, bowlinglife.eu and theunionstar all citing 2011 as the year; the Daily Mail instead reports his election came in October 2010. He later entered the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, which the PBA and bowlinglife.eu date to 2025 and the Daily Mail dates to November 2024.

Longest-Tenured Voice in the Sport

Pedersen's broadcasting career arguably outshone his playing days. He joined ESPN's booth in 2001 and served as the PBA's lead color analyst for 25 years, the longest tenure of any broadcaster in league history. He stayed with ESPN until the network dropped its PBA contract in 2018, moved to Fox Sports in 2019, and also worked CBS Sports Network broadcasts.

According to theunionstar, Pedersen called some of the sport's biggest moments, including Kelly Kulick's 2010 Tournament of Champions win, Pete Weber's 2012 U.S. Open title, and multiple major victories by Jason Belmonte. When the PBA's TV deal shifted to The CW and CBS in 2025, current pro Kyle Sherman took over his analyst chair, per the Daily Mail. Bowlinglife.eu reports Pedersen kept working, moving to webcasts with BowlTV, PBA Xtra Frame, and FloBowling.

Cause of Death Still Unconfirmed

No cause of death has been made public. The PBA's statement described the death only as "sudden." Hindustan Times and theunionstar both report that speculation has spread online suggesting Pedersen died by suicide, but neither outlet found any confirmation of that claim from the PBA, his family, or any medical or law enforcement authority. Theunionstar was explicit that the claims "should be treated as unconfirmed rather than reported as the cause of death."

A person's cause of death is a fact, not a guess, and no coroner or family statement has settled it as of this writing. Readers should treat the online chatter as exactly what it is: unverified social media speculation, not reporting.

Anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide can call or text 988 in the United States for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org.

Tributes From the Tour

Storm Bowling, Pedersen's longtime equipment sponsor, wrote on Facebook that he was "much more than a champion or broadcaster. A teammate, a friend, and part of the Storm family." Bowling writer Lucas Wiseman called him "an absolute legend in our sport" on X. Former pro Bob Learn Jr. recalled traveling with Pedersen to his first title win in Union City, California, and bowling against him in the semifinal of his final tournament win in Dayton nearly 30 years later.

Pedersen was raised in Southern California and lived near Orlando, Florida, for roughly three decades, according to the dead-people biographical record. He is survived by family the PBA has not yet publicly named. No funeral or memorial arrangements had been announced as of Thursday, September 17.