HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Garry Moore, a pioneer in early television who relied on warm charm for a long-running variety show, died Sunday at his home. He was 78.

Moore died after a seven-year battle with emphysema, said his son, Garry Morfit Jr.

Born Thomas Garrison Morfit in Baltimore Jan. 31, 1915, Moore quit high school to work in radio. He teamed up with Jimmy Durante in the 1940s, then “took a chance with this new thing, TV” in 1950, his son said.

He hosted a variety show on CBS, “The Garry Moore Show,” which ran off and on from 1950 until 1967, and the quiz shows “I’ve Got A Secret,” which ran on CBS from 1952 to 1966 and “To Tell the Truth,” a syndicated show that ran from 1969 to 1976.

Carol Burnett, Don Knotts, Alan King and Jonathan Winters were among entertainers Moore introduced on his variety show. Moore, who did not sing or dance himself, was known for his charm and comic personality.

“I remember a bow tie and a crewcut and an agreeable personality who always was welcome in our home in the Midwest growing up in the ’50s and watching TV,” said Tom Shales, the television critic for The Washington Post.

In 1958, CBS moved “The Garry Moore Show” from daytime to evening show. The network canceled it in 1964 after it lost ground among younger viewers.

Moore said he was quitting television because he had “said everything I ever wanted to say three times already.”

He sailed around the world, then returned to TV.

“A man needs a place to go to every day … the thing is, I love to work,” he said.

CBS brought back “The Garry Moore Show” in 1966, but it did poorly against NBC’s “Bonanza” and was canceled mid-season.

Moore left television for good in 1977 after he developed throat cancer. He recovered but did not return to regular television.

He spent his time sailing at his home in Hilton Head Island and a summer home in Northeast Harbor, Maine.

He is survived by his second wife, Betsy Moore; another son, John Mason Morfit; a brother, Henry Mason Morfit; and a sister, Penny Brede Horn.

A Thursday memorial service was planned.