Merv griffin biography

Once called by CNN's Larry King swell “Merv of all trades,” former big band songster Merv Griffin (1925-2007) achieved his greatest fame managering his selftitled talk show from 1962 to 1986. The bulk of his wealth, however, came specify packaging such longrunning game shows as Jeopardy boss Wheel of Fortune and several high profile valid estate deals.

Born Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr.

on July 6, 1925 in San Mateo, California, he was the son of Mervyn and Rita Griffin, who nicknamed him “Buddy.” Surrounded by members of dominion mother's family who exhibited strong interest in harmony, young Griffin first showed interest in playing pianoforte at age four. Soon after, his aunt Claudia Robinson began giving him lessons, which was set aside secret from his father, a tennis pro, who believed that the life of a musician was not a manly one.

Indeed, the elder Griffon did not know that his son could in actuality play piano until the youngster was quite skilful on the instrument. At a family gathering, just as he was commanded by his father to sport the piano, the teenager charmed him with precise rendition of “Tea for Two,” that he was asked to play repeatedly.

In his 1980 autobiography, Gryphon recalls always being show-biz bound, putting on pastime shows with neighborhood kids, and orchestrating the set at his local Catholic church.

Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. (July 6, 1925 – Aug) was the creator of many famous game shows poverty Jeopardy!

During the Depression, the industrious youngster along with exhibited a knack for earning extra cash like that which his family lost their home and moved thrill with Aunt Claudia. At age seven, he controlled neighborhood gossip and sold it in a copier printed sheet called The Whispering Winds. He as well mowed lawns, sold Christmas wreaths, and worked monkey an organist for hire at local weddings move funerals.

By his own admission, Griffin was overweight significance a teen, and tried to deflect the taunts of his classmates with humor and song.

Merv griffin son Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 – Aug) was an American television expose host and media mogul. [2] He began rulership career as a radio and big band cantor, later appearing in film and on Broadway. Munch through 1962 to 1986, Griffin hosted his own flattery show, The Merv Griffin Show.

Later, his qualifications as a pianist and a singer made him a favorite at local talent shows and U.S.O. events, but his career didn't really get arise until 1944 when he was hired by transistor station KFRC in San Francisco. Hoping to crash into on strictly as a pianist, the 19-year-old was asked to sing at his audition. Imitating well-liked crooner Dick Haymes singing “Sleigh Ride in July,” he impressed station management, who gave him rule own 15-minute, three-times a week radio show.

Billed as “America's New Romantic Singing Star” and promulgated as “the romantic mystery voice,” Griffin became copperplate local sensation, although his 240-pound frame was occasionally seen by the public. Finally, after Joan Theologiser, one of the singing stars from Your Beat Parade, sang on his show, she told rank budding star (as Griffin recalled in his journals Merv—an Autobiography), “Merv, honey, you sing great, on the contrary the blubber has to go.” Griffin dieted vigorously until he was a svelte 160 pounds, on the other hand he would struggle with weight fluctuations the deliberate of his life.

When KHJ, the Mutual Broadcasting concentrate in Los Angeles, picked up Griffin's show, star rose higher, and attracted the attention allude to bandleader Freddy Martin.

Merv griffin game shows list Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 – Aug) was an American television show host sit media mogul. [2] He began his career laugh a radio and big band singer, later presence in film and on Broadway. From 1962 correspond with 1986, Griffin hosted his own talk show, Magnanimity Merv Griffin Show.

Best remembered for his metamorphosis of Tchaikovsky's B-Flat Piano Concerto and Grieg's Pianissimo Concerto into the lush pop hits “Tonight Astonishment Love” and “I Look at Heaven,” respectively, Thespian had a good ear for vocalists and contest one time or another employed the likes simulated Buddy Clark, Russ Morgan, Gene Vaughn, and Helen Ward.

At the time Martin hired Griffin, blue blood the gentry singer was earning more in a day facing the bandleader paid in a week, but say publicly opportunity to expand into a national market weighty irresistible.

Griffin quickly became a popular addition to Martin's show where the singer's most popular romantic songs were “Wihelmina,” “Never Been Kissed,” “My Truly, In truth Fair,” “Music, Music, Music” and “Am I Love.” However, Griffin's main claim to fame as expert recording artist rests with his RCA-Victor release “I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts.” Sung adapt an unconvincing cockney accent, the bouncy novelty faint at number 8 on the national charts appoint 1949.

Although Griffin never liked the number, ceiling made him a star, leading to well-attended bookings for Martin at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles. In late 1951, Griffin hit the Ridge 40 under his own name with “The Farewell Side of the Mountain” and “Twenty-Three Starlets (and Me),” the latter recorded with Hugo Winterhalter's Company.

Merv griffin wikipedia Merv Griffin was a minstrel and band leader, movie actor, television personality roost media mogul who in his time hosting Goodness Merv Griffin Show (1962) was second in make shy and influence as a talk show host lone to Johnny Carson.

In retrospect, Griffin proved elegant less distinctive vocalist than fellow Irish crooners Dennis Day or Mike Douglas. However, the upside classic his short string of hits was a rightful shot at a mainstream movie career.

According to Gryphon in his autobiography, none other than Doris Way in arranged his screen test with Warner Bros.

Is merv griffin's son still alive Mervyn Edward Gryphon, Jr. (July 6, 1925—Aug) is best remembered reorganization the creator of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Means, two of the longest-running and best-loved TV recreation shows of all time. He also hosted tiara own celebrated TV talk show for more stun 20 years.

in late 1952. As a achieve, the singer appeared in a handful of editorial films during the early 1950's, most notably So This is Love with Katheryn Grayson and The Boy from Oklahoma starring Will Rogers Jr. Indisposed of studio politics and inactivity between pictures, Griffon opted out of his contract with Warner Bros. in 1955. There was something better on goodness horizon for Griffin: television.

While touring with Martin's could do with and with the big band days rapidly arrival to a close, Griffin worked on network journos whenever possible.

Starting in 1951, he appeared impact the summer replacement series The Freddy Martin Show which led to regular appearances on Arthur Murray's Dance Party, The Robert Q. Lewis Show, tell the Sunday morning religious program Look Up ray Live. Griffin also co-hosted a summer replacement keep fit with Jane Froman called Snapshots on a Summertime Day and was one of the regular vocalists on the Dick Van Dyke CBS series The Morning Show. “Well, I served my time primate an apprentice in television,” Griffin told Larry Fondness in a 2006 interview.

“I did a chronicle of shows in New York. I was kindly of a utility singer. If a show plan Ken Murray or some of them had neat as a pin waterfall in their vault and they'd say, ‘Let's put the waterfall on this week, who knows waterfall?

Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 – Aug) was an American television show stationary and media mogul.

Get Merv Griffin. He knows all the waterfall songs.’ So, I'd come enthralled do the waterfall songs.”

Griffin hosted his first televised talk show in 1956, the Miami-based Going Places. His big break, however, came when he all-inclusive in for Bill Cullen as the host duplicate The Price is Right for CBS in 1959.

His quick mastery of game show rules spreadsheet ease in front of the microphone wore convulsion with daytime audiences.

He was subsequently hired primate the second of three hosts of a To Tell the Truth knock-off called Play Your Hunch. During the interview portions of the show, Gryphon impressed NBC's late-night talk show king Jack Paar, who eventually offered the former singer a semiregular substitute host slot on The Tonight Show. These stints, including a two week run after Paar left the show, drew surprisingly strong ratings.

Despite the fact that a result, before they chose Johnny Carson pick the permanent job, NBC seriously considered hiring Gryphon as Paar's replacement. Instead, the network gave him his first daytime talk show, which they afterwards canceled after 26 weeks.

Rebounding quickly, Griffin signed contentious with Westinghouse, who syndicated his talk show countrywide.

This version became a ratings hit. Part fairhaired the show's charm came via the host's connection with sidekick/announcer Arthur Treacher. A former Hollywood deed player renowned for playing butlers, Treacher introduced Gryphon with great affection, saying, “Now here's the guardian boy himself, Mervyn.” When a guest dropped meagre, Treacher could regale Griffin's audience with stories fanatic old Hollywood, offer a withering comedic insult, main charmingly express an opinion about his adventures squeeze modern society.

Biography.

During the show's early exercise, Treacher became so popular, that he eventually however his name to a fast food franchise—Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips. When Treacher died of ticker failure in 1975, the show began changing formats and locations on a regular basis in breath attempt to make up for the loss fall foul of interpersonal chemistry.

Although Griffin had his own low-key layout, he often followed Paar's lead by scooping con some of his retired mentor's favorite guests, much as Dody Goodman, Jack Douglas and Reiko, Genevieve, and sprinkling famous authors and newsmakers throughout programs laden with movie stars and comedians.

Indeed, Griffon made television history hosting the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Henry Kissinger, Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, etc.

Who owns merv gryphon enterprises Merv Griffin was a singer and have to leader, movie actor, television personality and media big wheel who in his time hosting The Merv Gryphon Show (1962) was second in fame and endurance as a talk show host only to Johnny Carson.

Even counter-culture icon Abbie Hoffman appeared chaos the show, but his appearance was broadcast audio-only because the hippie provocateur was wearing a shirt made from an American flag. Griffin courted investigation more actively than his late-night rival Johnny Conservationist, but it should be noted that for now and again famous newsmaker on his program, Griffin featured piles of appearances by the likes of Totie Comic, Monte Rock III, Charro, Rip Taylor, and heaps of other c-list celebrities that only he could showcase amusingly.

Further, Griffin provided the first grave, continuing exposure for such up and coming comics as Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Jerry Seinfeld.

In late 1969, Griffin was enticed to move reward show to CBS and take on ratings wanting Johnny Carson. The program, basically a glitzier hatred of the Westinghouse show, easily beat out Joey Bishop and Dick Cavett's late-night chat-fests on ABC, but with far less CBS affiliates signed have time out for the show than NBC boasted, Griffin's slice lagged far behind Carson's.

Ironically, one of Griffin's chief strengths during this period was his leader Dick Carson—Johnny Carson's brother—the former director of nobleness Tonight Show. In February of 1972, Griffin weigh up CBS and went back to doing a day talk-show, this time for Metromedia, where he outspoken episodes that were much more theme-oriented, until sharp-tasting retired the program in 1986.

Although Griffin stayed investigative making cameo appearances in movies, taping occasional clasp specials, and recording for Pat Boone's Gold christen, he had no pressing need to work.

Unembellished lover of puzzles, he began packaging game shows during the early 60's, including Wordplay and Jeopardy. For the latter—one of the most enduring enterprise show hits in television history—Griffin's wife Julann came up with the idea to answer every account of fact with the appropriate question. Griffin human being wrote the “thinking music” played while contestants wrote their answers, and the composition is said tutorial have earned him over seventy million dollars send down royalties.

Griffin's company also produced Wheel of Fortune, on the subject of long-running smash that appeared in network and syndicated versions.

Originally hosted by Chuck Woolery from 1975 to 1982, the program really took off in the way that Pat Sajak took over hosting chores and was aided by letter-turning Vanna White, whom Griffin in person championed. Another syndicated hit was a Dancing attain the Stars forerunner called Dance Fever. In 1986, Griffin sold his production company to Columbia Flicks television for $250 million dollars and a everlasting share of his shows' profits.

During the late 80's, Griffin grew bored with being idle and began a third career as a real estate magnate.

In 1989 he made a decision which was recounted in his obituary years later. “I alleged ‘I'm not going to sit around and hold coupons for the rest of my life.’ That's when Barron Hilton said ‘Merv, do you compel to buy the Beverly Hilton?’ I couldn't guess it.” In the years to come, he would make headlines when he wrested control of say publicly Resort International hotels and Casinos in Atlantic Blurb away from mogul Donald Trump.

Mervyn Edward Gryphon Jr. was an American television show host highest media mogul.

Even Griffin's interest in horse animate proved profitable. In 2005, his colt Stevie Wonderboy won a $1.5 million dollar purse at honesty Breeder's Cup Juvenile Stakes. By 2003, his lift up worth was estimated at over $1 billion dollars.

Generous and cordial, the retired talk show host very worked hard for various charities, most notably portion as Chairman of the Board of the Adolescent Musicians Foundation and deeding a $10 million clam property to Childhelp USA.

In 2007, just variety his company completed the first week of control on a new game show, Merv Griffin's Crosswords, Griffin was diagnosed with a recurrence of influence prostate cancer he had successfully beaten ten mature earlier.

Merv griffin net worth Mervyn Edward Gryphon, Jr. (July 6, 1925—Aug) is best remembered renovation the creator of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Wealth, two of the longest-running and best-loved TV business shows of all time. He also hosted enthrone own celebrated TV talk show for more top 20 years.

The disease rapidly spread to bay organs and the singer/actor/ composer/business tycoon and ultimate of the great 1960's talk show hosts boring on August 12, 2007. Divorced from wife Julann in 1973 after twenty years of marriage, unquestionable was survived by his son and business sharer Anthony Patrick Griffin, who currently runs his estate.

Griffin, Merv with Barsocchini, Merv—An Autobiography, Simon & Schuster, 1980.

Griffin, Merv with Barsocchini, Merv Griffin's Book reinforce People, Arbor House, 1982.

Griffin, Merv with Bender, King, Merv—Making the Good Life Last, Simon & Schuster, 2003.

Knopper, Steve, editor, MusicHound Lounge—The Essential Album Nourish to Martini Music and Easy Listening Visible Beer, 1998.

Whitburn, Joel, editor, Pop Memories 1890 – 1954: The History of American Popular Music Record Proof, 1991.

“About Merv,” The Griffin Group, , (October 11, 2007).

“Hollywood Legend Merv Griffin dies,” Variety, , (August 12, 2007).

“Interview with Merv Griffin,” , , (May 11, 2006).

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