Griffin died of prostate cancer, according to a statement from his family that was released by Marcia Newberger, spokeswoman for The Griffin Group/Merv Griffin Entertainment.

From his beginning as a $100-a-week San Francisco, California, radio singer, Griffin moved on as vocalist for Freddy Martin's band, sometime film actor and TV game and talk show host. His "The Merv Griffin Show" lasted more than 20 years, and Griffin said his capacity to listen contributed to his success.

"If the host is sitting there thinking about his next joke, he isn't listening," Griffin reasoned in a recent interview.

But his biggest break financially came from inventing and producing "Jeopardy" in the 1960s and "Wheel of Fortune" in the 1970s.

I don't think there is a single one of us who hasn't seen an episode of Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune.

formerviking

Denver, PA

May 2006

AUG 12, 2007 11:14 AM

Every freaking afternoon , my dad would come home & watch that damn talk show . I honestly don't think he ever knew how many gay men Merv interviewed on that show . But I remember some fashion designer on there & the topic of how a mans dress shirt has the pocket on a certain side , while a womans is the reverse , & how Merv was basically wearing a womans shirt . That & a couple of intense discussions with Gore Vidal . That dude could be the definition of intense if those 20 + year old memories still hold true . Of course , there was also Merv's cameo in The Man With Two Brains as a serial killer . " Oooh , is that Merv Griffin skulking around over there " ?

ardour

Ottawa, ON

March 2006

AUG 12, 2007 08:32 PM

He also continued to receive royalties for the popular "Jeopardy!" theme song, which he wrote.

Uh...

Do they mean... I'm a Little Teapot?

Because if he was getting money off it, I'm going to go take Humpty Dumpty, play it without words, and make it into a theme song!

punk

Phoenix, AZ

January 2004

AUG 12, 2007 08:40 PM

ardour said:

He also continued to receive royalties for the popular "Jeopardy!" theme song, which he wrote.

Uh...

Do they mean... I'm a Little Teapot?

Because if he was getting money off it, I'm going to go take Humpty Dumpty, play it without words, and make it into a theme song!

I'm not entirely sure how I'm a Little Teapot and the "Jeopardy" theme are the same in any way.

ardour

Ottawa, ON

March 2006

AUG 12, 2007 09:24 PM

Really? wait wait wait... I'm thinking of the music they play during Final Jeopardy. I can't even think of what Jeopardy's main theme is, but it's most likely different.

Carry on!

Westley

Vatican City

April 2004

AUG 12, 2007 09:49 PM

In addition to his many accomplishments in TV, he also had an illustrious second career as the notorious Elevator Killer on at least two different continents. Godspeed you Elevator Killer.

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Merv Griffin dies at 82

punk

Phoenix, AZ

January 2004

AUG 12, 2007 10:40 AM

formerviking

Denver, PA

May 2006

AUG 12, 2007 11:14 AM

ardour

Ottawa, ON

March 2006

AUG 12, 2007 08:32 PM

punk

Phoenix, AZ

January 2004

AUG 12, 2007 08:40 PM

ardour

Ottawa, ON

March 2006

AUG 12, 2007 09:24 PM

Westley

Vatican City

April 2004

AUG 12, 2007 09:49 PM