Tubby
08-12-2007, 04:03 PM
Merv Griffin dead at 82:
Merv Griffin, the legendary creator of famous American television game-shows such as "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy", has died, reports said Sunday. He was 82.
Griffin had been suffering from prostate cancer and died overnight Saturday at Los Angeles Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was admitted just under a month ago after a relapse, several report said.
Griffin's spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
A former talk-show host who began his entertainment career as a bandleader and singer in the 1940s, Griffin's lasting legacy will be his hit game-shows, which were exported to television networks around the world.
"Jeopardy" first hit US television screens in 1964 and is still on air over 40 years later, and has been adopted by nearly 30 different countries.
"Wheel of Fortune" made its debut 11 years later and has enjoyed similarly successful longevity, having recently been extended through to 2012.
When Griffin sold his production company -- and rights to his game-shows -- 1986 he pocketed around 250 million dollars, leading Forbes to describe him as the richest entertainer in Hollywood.
His television talk show which he launched in the 1960s was on the air for two decades.
Griffin was also an honorary pallbearer for President Ronald Reagan at his 2003 funeral and was also a longtime friend of First Lady Nancy Reagan.
Merv Griffin, the legendary creator of famous American television game-shows such as "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy", has died, reports said Sunday. He was 82.
Griffin had been suffering from prostate cancer and died overnight Saturday at Los Angeles Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was admitted just under a month ago after a relapse, several report said.
Griffin's spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
A former talk-show host who began his entertainment career as a bandleader and singer in the 1940s, Griffin's lasting legacy will be his hit game-shows, which were exported to television networks around the world.
"Jeopardy" first hit US television screens in 1964 and is still on air over 40 years later, and has been adopted by nearly 30 different countries.
"Wheel of Fortune" made its debut 11 years later and has enjoyed similarly successful longevity, having recently been extended through to 2012.
When Griffin sold his production company -- and rights to his game-shows -- 1986 he pocketed around 250 million dollars, leading Forbes to describe him as the richest entertainer in Hollywood.
His television talk show which he launched in the 1960s was on the air for two decades.
Griffin was also an honorary pallbearer for President Ronald Reagan at his 2003 funeral and was also a longtime friend of First Lady Nancy Reagan.