HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Ken Ober, the popular host of MTV's hit 1980s-era game show Remote Control, has died. He was 52.

Ober's death was confirmed Monday to MTV News. The cause of death was not immediately known.

The Boston native hosted Remote Control for five seasons, beginning in 1987. The MTV classic combined pop culture with a set located in a basement, in which the host often referenced his mother upstairs. The program, in which losing contestants were sucked off in their leather recliners, also included Colin Quinn as an announcer. Hostesses included Marisol Massey and Kari Wührer.

The show was also a launching pad for the careers of such stars as Adam Sandler and Denis Leary.