Don Gillis, a broadcaster who helped pioneer the evening television sportscast in Boston and was the longtime TV host of Candlepin Bowling, has died. He was 85.

Gillis died Wednesday at his home in Falmouth after suffering a series of small strokes three weeks ago, said his son, Gary Gillis.

The elder Gillis was born in Nova Scotia in 1922. He began a career in radio broadcasting at New Bedford's WBSM-AM after serving in the Navy during World War II. He later joined WHDH-AM, then the flagship station of the Boston Red Sox.

Gillis began sportscasting on WHDH-TV in October 1962, on the night Johnny Carson debuted as host of "The Tonight Show."

He later became the station's sports director, before joining the new WCVB-TV in March 1972 in the same position. He retired in 1983, but continued hosting the popular candlepin bowling show until 1995, Gillis said.