Merv Griffin Passes at 82

12 Aug

Posted by Alex Davis as Breaking News

Very sad news today. Merv Griffin, creator of Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and Crosswords; radio personality; and host of The Merv Griffin Show has passed away at age 82. Mr. Griffin also had a brief film career, in which he appeared opposite Doris Day and Kathryn Grayson. After Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! 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 quickly became bored, leading to the creation of Crosswords which debuts September 10th across the country in syndication. 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.

23 Responses

Ohio Wx Guy
1
August 12th, 2007 at 12:54 pm

Awful news to hear this morning… Merv was the best there is. I wish his family the very best through these times.
zach
2
August 12th, 2007 at 12:55 pm

I knew Merv wasn’t going to pull this. Damn!! Thank you Merv for everything you did for this business. You will never be forgotten in the game show world.
Abric
3
August 12th, 2007 at 1:10 pm

So many legends have died this month. He is a true legend. Just a month shy of his newest game show premiering. I know that when the new season starts for Wheel, Jeopardy and the premiere of Crosswords, there will be a special tribute to him. I think in my mind that without Merv, Wheel and J! would have never existed. RIP Merv Griffin.
Scott Meckley
4
August 12th, 2007 at 1:19 pm

RIP Merv and merv family is in my prayers. Thank you merv for the great games of Wheel and Jeopardy and hopefully Crosswords will air where I’m at so i can watch it.
lobster
5
August 12th, 2007 at 1:32 pm

only a guy like Merv could’ve turned hangman into a global sensation.. rip, mate..

LObs
Drew
6
August 12th, 2007 at 1:45 pm

R.I.P, Merv. I’m saddened by this, but figured he would die considering his condition was in serious Jeopardy. I pray the family the best in these dire times.
Marc Power
7
August 12th, 2007 at 1:52 pm

what a loss, That’s all i can say, One of my favorite moments was from when Pat kissed Vanna on his last daytime show and Merv walks out and taps Pat on the shoulder. I also enjoyed watching the re-runs on GSN of Merv hosting Play Your Hunch for instance I have one on a DVD where he opens the show by singing and playing “the piano roll blues” Speaking of which (not to sound like an SOB or anything) I’ll bet we’ll being seeing a couple of tribute eps. of Play Your Hunch on GSN soon. Truly, not just a legend but a pioneer in television and will be throughly missed.
Wheelloon
8
August 12th, 2007 at 2:21 pm

Horribly sad news.

Thinking very highly of Merv for most of life, and hearing his name regularly in the news, this is very saddening to hear today. I wish his family and friends my condolences, and they can rest assured his influence on America will be felt for many years to come. He was a truly honest, respectable, and outstanding man…

RIP
Jesse
9
August 12th, 2007 at 3:19 pm

The t.v. and entertainment world has lost a very classy, talented, outstanding, and all around great human being. Even after his talk show left the air he remained a hard worker evident of his current game show venture, Crosswords, and I do hope it becomes just as successful as Jeopardy and WoF. And to his family and friends many condolences and prayers. RIP Merv.
Nikolai
10
August 12th, 2007 at 4:32 pm

I am and always will be a big fan of Mr. Griffin’s work. I could probably go on and on about him, but all I will say is that there will never be another one like him.
Ada
11
August 12th, 2007 at 4:47 pm

RIP Merv. Thank you so very much for Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. You are and always will be a legend in the television industry and the game show industry for creating two shows that have endured and make thier mark on the American landscape. Jeopardy! for it’s unique format. and WOF for making everyone’s day brighter. We will never forget you Merv. Jeopardy and WOF will continue to go on as you would have wanted that. and we all hope that your new show Crosswords is just as sucessful as J! and WOF.
dropzone5
12
August 12th, 2007 at 5:46 pm

RIP Merv. I was fortunate enough to be a contestant on Jeopardy! about four years ago…the format, the game…it was purely genius. If Merv couldn’t do it, I don’t know who could. Same goes for WOF.

Memo to WOF staff: A memorial plaque on the base of the wheel would be very fitting, no?

As for Crosswords, I have confidence it will do well. Hopefully it’ll last as long (and maybe longer?) than J! and WOF.
Intelligentfan777
13
August 12th, 2007 at 6:40 pm

I had a feeling this was going to happen, I just didn’t expect it so soon. My condolences to his family, and everyone who had a close connection to him. Merv created Jeopardy, and Wheel Of Fortune, and has left a mark on the game show genre, and the television industry as a whole that continues to have a great influence in all our lives today.

The Intelligentfan tips his thinking cap to you. We are all grateful, especially for you creating one more game to make it to the air waves. We all hope Crosswords is a big hit more than ever now. I would also imagine we will see some kind of tribute to him from WOF and J! at some point, it’s only proper.

RIP Merv Griffin
John
14
August 12th, 2007 at 8:24 pm

Aw! That’s horrible news!
It’s even terrible that he’ll not be able to see his premiere of crosswords.

I got to admit, prostate cancer is becoming the most common death than breast cancer. I do recall Rod Roddy passed away from the same condition.

I hope at the end of his every show, where Mr Griffin was given credit, should have “in [good] memory of” added to the credit.
Measles!
15
August 12th, 2007 at 8:37 pm

What terrible news to come onto the site to. A fitting tribute is in order. GSN, if you don’t want a f***ing riot here, you do a PROPER tribute. Otherwise, you get a rant. A VIOLENT RANT.

RIP Merv Griffin :(
Dan
16
August 12th, 2007 at 8:39 pm

If GSN wants to have a marathon to honor Merv, GSN should air Wheel of Fortune in not some, number its #1 since 1975 (1983 nighttime), and #2 it hasn’t been aired in 3 years.
KBGUY09
17
August 12th, 2007 at 11:19 pm

RIP Merv, I, like many people, probably saw this coming, but now that it has happened, well… I can’t put it into words… Just…WOW. RIP Merv.
DDELE7
18
August 12th, 2007 at 11:21 pm

Hi agree. GSN should honor the man that gave us the Wheel and Jeporady!

Im not teribbly surprised that the cancer took him so quicklym but everytime i watch these legendary programs, ill always think of Merv.

He was right up there with (ya might even say, the other…) Mark Goodson.

Thanks a bunch Merv. And all the best in the next life.

- Wheel will be in its 25 Season this year, and Crosswords premieres in a few weeks. Im sure this season will be very bittersweet.
Toltendo
19
August 13th, 2007 at 12:28 am

I was absolutely shocked about this when I heard it on the news. I thought Merv was going to get thought his cancer, but it just has to end.

I love you for your inspiration throughout all of my kid years and just watching his shows were some of the greatest things I have ever seen. I rarely say this, but god rest his heart.
Brandon
20
August 13th, 2007 at 1:14 am

Although I know he was sick for a while, I’m still sad to hear that.

RIP Merv, you helped educate a lot of kids with Wheel and Jeopardy! Several generations owe you a debt of gratitude.
Steve Baxley
21
August 13th, 2007 at 1:54 pm

Right now, God and his angels are in the ultimate studio audience ..and guess what is going on.

Yep, Merv is producing the ultimate version of Jeopardy

I can see it now …

St. Peter: This is “Celestial JEOPARDY!”, Now entering the studio are todays contestants a salesman from Passadena,Cal ..A School teacher from Newark, NJ and our Jeopardy champion whose winnings have reached ..only heaven knows.. and now here’s the host of “Celestial Jeopardy”..ART FLEMMING!!

Art: Thank you, Thank You very much My Friends….

St. Peter: “Celestial Jeopardy” is a Merv Griffin Production

And I said in a previous post, I hope GSN give Merv a week tribute because he did a lot for Television and the game show industry,and does anyone remember what he wanted put on his headstone…?

If you go on my myspace page, I did a good tribute, The Griffin with a tear coming down his eye.
mrquiz
22
August 13th, 2007 at 8:46 pm

DDLE7 commented that Merv is now in Heaven with Mark Goodson. …Along with Goodson’s partner, Bill Todman. And, there’s Jack Barry & Dan Enright; Bob Quigley (Merrill Heatter’s partner-for those who don’t know, they were the guys behind the original “Hollywood Squares,” and the “other” show that help cement Wink Martindale’s career-”Gambit,” to name a couple); Stefan Hatos (Monty Hall’s partner); Louis Cowan,(the man behind “The $64,000 Question/Challenge, and his producer, Steve Carlin); Ralph Edwards; and Bill Carruthers, who gave us “Press Your Luck.” May God bless them all.
Woodie B.
23
August 14th, 2007 at 1:03 am

As a former WOF champ from the 1997-98 season, all I have to say to Merv is: Thank you for creating one of the best game shows on television. Thank you, Merv, for returning Jeopardy back to TV in 1984…the consummate question & answer quiz show. Without you, we wouldn’t have TV’s ‘Daily Double’.