Tuesday, August 14, 2007

MERV GRIFFIN: 1925-2007

Baltimore Sun File Photo

A TV and singing legend passed away Sunday. Merv Griffin, a singer from the big-band era who went on to create some of the best-known TV game shows in history, passed away in Los Angeles from prostate cancer at the age of 82.

He was born on July 6, 1925 in California. At a young age, he was interested in singing, and landed a job on the radio, and even recorded an album.

He left his radio job in 1948 to become a member of the Freddy Martin band. Afterward he recorded his best-known song, "I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts". Later, he would find himself in stage and film acting roles.

Then came TV, and Griffin dabbled in the talk-show business. He was a guest numerous times on The Jack Paar Show in the 1950s. Paar moved on to NBC, and Griffin was a substitute host on numerous occasions.

Even with all of his roles on the radio and on TV, Griffin will be remembered most for something else, TV game shows. He was the creator of the Jeopardy and Wheel Of Fortune shows, two of the most popular TV game shows in history. Even the theme songs to these shows were his creations.

Griffin even dabbled in business ventures, buying and selling hotels, casinos and radio stations through his prolific life. He was close friends with Ronald and Nancy Reagan, and visited the White House on numerous occasions during the Reagan Administration in the 1980s.

He married Julann Elizabeth Wright in 1958. They had a son, Tony. He survives his father along with the elder Griffin's two grandchildren. Merv and Julann were divorced in 1976.
He will be missed by all who knew him and by the millions who saw him as one of the most prolific of the entertainers of the latter half of the 20th century.

Rest in peace, Merv Griffin and God bless you!

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