TV legend Merv Griffin dead at 82

[LynnieD]

LOS ANGELES - Merv Griffin, the entertainer turned impresario who parlayed his “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune” game shows into a multimillion-dollar empire, has died. He was 82.

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

Griffin, who began his career as a $100-a-week radio singer in San Francisco, soon moved on to become the featured vocalist in Freddy Martin’s band.
That led to a brief film career, in which he appeared opposite Doris Day and Kathryn Grayson, and later to a successful TV career as host of “The Merv Griffin Show,” which aired for more than 20 years.

His biggest financial break, however, came from inventing and producing “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune.”

Merv Griffin, the entertainer turned impresario who parlayed his “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune” game shows into a multimillion-dollar empire, has died. He was 82.

'I was never so bored in my life'
After they became the hottest game shows in television, Griffin sold the rights to them to the Columbia Pictures Television Unit for $250 million, retaining a share of the profits. He started spreading the sale money around in treasury bonds, stocks and other investments.

But he went into real estate and other ventures because “I was never so bored in my life,” he said in a recent interview.


“I said, ‘I’m not going to sit around and clip coupons for the rest of my life,’ “ he recalled in 1989. “That’s when Barron Hilton said, ‘Merv, do you want to buy the Beverly Hilton?’ I couldn’t believe it.”

Griffin bought the slightly passe hotel for $100.2 million and completely refurbished it for $25 million. Then he made a move for control of Resorts International, which operated hotels and casinos from Atlantic City to the Caribbean.

That touched off a feud with real estate tycoon Donald Trump. Griffin eventually acquired Resorts for $240 million, netting a reported paper profit of $100 million.

“I love the gamesmanship,” he told Life magazine in 1988. “This may sound strange, but it parallels the game shows I’ve been involved in.”

This breaking news story will be updated.

Merv Griffin dies at 82 - Celebrity News - MSNBC.com

[AliceInWonderland]

aaaaawww RIP,



but honestly before he got sick in the hospital and all this attention was being paid to him i had already thought he was dead.

[msdeb]

aww i always had a crush on him... RIP

[LynnieD]

He hand picked Vanna White for the Wheel of Fortune gig right?? Must have had a thing for huge heads...

Wonder if his boyfriend had a big head? haha

RIP Merv!

[HWBL]

Wasn't he "married" or something to Eva "Green Acres" Gabor until her
death?

Anyway, R.I.P.


Source CBS.COM June 2006:

But it's not all been smooth sailing. In 1973 his marriage to former radio comedian
Julann Wright, mother of his son Tony, dissolved.

In the 1980s he began a long-term relationship with actress Eva Gabor, who's closet he had
visited for his show.

They were together until they she died in 1995. Gabor's death was tough for Griffin to handle.

"Only because we'd had an argument and we hadn't settled the argument yet and I was mad
and I was off on my boat and she died while I was gone. That was tough," Griffin says.

Now 80, Griffin says he has no plans to marry again.

"What do you want from me?" Griffin quips. "I don't want to create a widow immediately. Jeez."

So, they lived together for several years. I stand corrected, hehe.

[doriangray]

isn't he also the one who lost his specs one day in a speedo, spied ryan seacrest and sicced him on the world?
saw vanna's very first appearance one night when they had an anniversary special. she was beautiful. so sweet. according to liza in "you'll never make love in this town again" she's very good at eating pussy as well.

[AliceInWonderland]

eva gabor's dead?! and she died that long ago?!!! damn.

[CherryDarling]

RIP Merv Truly an innovative man.

[DoveFeatheredRaven]

My nanny loved The Merv Griffin Show.

You know he had a helluva life!!

[HWBL]

eva gabor's dead?! and she died that long ago?!!! damn.

Yep, Zsa Zsa - the one married to that attention whore fake prince - is the only one still alive. Mom Jolie, I think, died at 104, Magda was in a coma a long time before they pulled the plug on her - I think she died the youngest, and Eva died somewhere in her seventies (that we know of, because the Gabors were famous for lying about their ages).

[Beeyotch]

Rumor has it that Ryan Seacrest was Merv Griffin's boytoy in exchange for all the career opportunities he's had. Besides gameshows, that's all I thought of when I heard he'd died. But 80-something is a long full life, he had a good run and did a lot.

[CherryDarling]

^^
Really Beeyotch?! That's interesting, I've never heard that one before. Would make sense though.

[yoyoma]

Rest in peace

[Elvira]

Farewell Merv, RIP.

Merv had two lawsuits filed against him by men. One was for palimony and the other for sexual harassment. At the time I wondered if Eva was Merv’s beard, but both cases were dismissed. Recently it came to mind again because of Zsa Zsa’s Prince Frederick claiming he was robbed. Rumors are that Prince Frederick was in an area frequented by men, looking for men.
Link to article below. (comments left by posters claim it is well known he is gay.)

Janet Charlton's Hollywood -- Celebrity Gossip & Rumors

Sorry, I got sidetracked.

[DitaPage*]

Rest In Peace.