Griffin disliked the censorship imposed by CBS and complained. And yet, it is very important for reasons far beyond visibility or mere gossip. Merv was looking at notes for a new game show, and Julann asked if it was one of the knowledge-based games she liked. However, it returned years later and led to his death on 12th August 2007. He was Lifetime Honorary Festival Chairman of La Quinta Arts Festival and recently donated his Wickenburg Inn and Dude Ranch to Childhelp USA.In March 2001, the Gold Label released his new CD, "It's Like a Dream", for which he composed the title song. Donahue has plenty of other markets. His height was 1.75 m tall and weighed 70 kg. ", Joel Swerdlow; Joel Swerdlow is the coauthor of "Remote Control: Television. The star said she liked her husband's children and it was a "treat" to be around them in 1977, Phil's daughter lived with his ex in Illinois. After three years of marriage, they got married on May 21, 1980. . From that moment, "Donahue" became an audience-participation program. Both lawsuits were eventually dismissed. That year, Brent Plott, a longtime employee who worked as a bodyguard, horse trainer and driver, filed a $200million palimony lawsuit, which was also dismissed. Marlo Thomas, 2018 | Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas, 2022 | Source: Instagram.com/marlothomas | Getty Images. Also, he founded two TV production organizations Merv Griffin Entertainment and Merv Griffin Enterprises. . The kiss was a first in Hollywood film history since the introduction of the Production Code in 1934. Both ultimately were dismissed. They moan, gasp and applaud, and surround him with a chorus of questions and arguments. Born In: San Mateo, California, United States, place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States, Founder/Co-Founder: Merv Griffin Enterprises, Merv Griffin Entertainment, education: University of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco, San Mateo Junior College, See the events in life of Merv Griffin in Chronological Order, (Host of 'The Merv Griffin Show' and Creator of the Games Shows 'Jeopardy!' He had an older sister, Barbara. Griffin was introduced to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1974. She is best known for starring on the sitcom That Girl (1966-1971) and her children's franchise Free to Be. They had a deep conversation about divorce, marriage, and children; they were both Catholic. Shortly after the show begins he may be warning that time is almost gone. Perhaps he figured it was preferable to remain the object of gossip rather than live openly as "one of. From 1958 to 1962, Griffin hosted Play Your Hunch, a game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Merv Griffin spent decades as a beloved talk-show host but the gay game-show mogul was also a pioneer in Hollywood sexual-harassment cases! In the 1980s, Griffin purchased the Paradise Island Resort and Casino in the Bahamas for $400million from Trump, but later sold it for just $125million. On Monday, Nov. 6, 1967, his first guest was Madalyn Murray O'Hair, the woman whose lawsuit eliminated prayer from public schools. It ran on all three networks, but primarily NBC. So powerful is his appeal that the "Today" show signed him as a regular contributor last May. LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Merv Griffin was gay. [25] After Paar left The Tonight Show, but before Johnny Carson took over (Carson was still hosting Who Do You Trust? In the business world, he was identified as the visionary chairman of The Griffin Group.Born in the San Francisco, California suburb of San Mateo, Griffin "came up through the ranks" in the classic sense, entering talent contests, writing songs, singing on local radio station KFRC-San Francisco, and later touring with Freddy Martin Orchestra. The actress said, "It was a very big thing for me to see that marriage could be a roomy enough place for my dream and his dream.". We knew nothing of his relationships because he guarded his privacy fiercely, and we didnt pry. [35][36] After ten months of ownership, Griffin reported a loss of $46.6 million. There was Peter Lawford, Robert Walker, Gordon Scott the then-Tarzan. Griffin became the host of The Merv Griffin Show, which was his own talk show. Griffin characterized both lawsuits as extortion. Griffin was not shy about tackling controversial subjects, especially the Vietnam War. Griffin scored a coup when Tonight Show host Jack Paar accidentally emerged onto the set of Play Your Hunch during a live broadcast, and Griffin got him to stay for a spontaneous interview. The audience quickly picks up his rhythm. But in a New York office recently, Donahue looked much more subdued that he does goes on television, his eyes more pale and penetrating. Merv Griffin was in relationships with Eva Gabor (1985 - 1995), Natalie Trundy (1959) and May Wynn (1953). "You're on the cover of 'Publisher's Weekly'," editor-in-chief Michael Korda told talk-show king Phil Donahue. Although Griffin married and reportedly had affairs with several women, including Judy Garland, his In a December 1977 article, the actress recalled how Phil was a modern man and a single parent when they met. Melissa McCarthy Said She 'Hit the Jackpot' with Husband Ben Falcone Who Only Proposed 17 Years after They Met, Nicole Kidman's Phone Tapped & She Was Spied on before Split from Tom Cruise & Losing 2nd Baby, Book Claims, Kelly Clarkson Quit 'The Voice' to Enjoy More Time with Kids Whom She Rarely Shows, Barbra Streisand Amazed Grandkid on 4th Birthday She 'Never' Takes off 'Grandma' Bracelet after Her Birth, Valerie Bertinelli's Last Talk with Dying 'Soulmate' & Their Awaited Kid Helps Her after Cancer Took Him, Kenny Rogers Called Having Twins at 65 with 'Rare' Wife 'Wonderful Experience' One Son Was Praised for New Job, Marie Osmond Is 63 She 'Never Wanted' to Remarry after 2nd Divorce, Yet Later Wed Her First Husband Again. Discussion rapidly evolves into a group event, with Donahue roaming along the aisles, cajoling, flirting, taunting and enticing. In 1975 Donahue set up housekeeping in suburban Chicago, and the women's magazines dubbed him "Bachelor-Father." But each of the more than 200 "Donahue" stations -- including flagship WGN in Chicago -- buys it on his terms: If any station manager wants to pull the plug, fine. They divorced in 1976 after 17 years of marriage. I said, I just don't believe it's for me.". In 1998, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs was dedicated to him. On the other hand, Phil had been married before and welcomed five children, making his new wife a stepmother. The censorship did not boost the ratings for Griffin, who was facing stiff competition from the genial Carson, who himself was criticized during the era for shying away from controversial subjects.In 1972, a fed-up Griffin negotiated a syndication deal with Metromedia to move his talk show back to the daytime, and in the event he was terminated by CBS. Perhaps he figured it was preferable to remain the object of gossip rather than live openly as one of them.. Another was '79 Wistful Vista.' And he seems without shame: "I would be afraid I'm going to die if someone told me I had leukemia. Million Dollar Masters Tournament from 2002. Donahue denied the rumors by signing a six-year contract to continue independent production. But how tremendously sad it is that a man of Mervs renown, of his gregarious nature and social dexterity, would feel compelled to endure such a stealthy double life even as the gay communitys clout, and its levels of acceptance and equality, rose steadily from the ashes of ignorance. Even in the capital of entertainment -- in a business where homosexuality isnt exactly a rare phenomenon -- its still spoken of in hushed tones or, more often, not at all. More than 8 1/2 million viewers in over 200 markets now watch him daily, eclipsing all other syndicated talk shows. . The show, originally titled What's the Question?, premiered on NBC on March 30, 1964, hosted by Art Fleming, and ran for 11 years. November 25, 1926 - February 24, 2023. . This former bodyguard and horse trainer was paid $250 a week, lived in one of two apartments underneath my former house as part of his security function, and left my payroll six or seven years ago. It won several awards and nominations and has been adapted into numerous international versions. Meanwhile, his body is working fulltime. Griffin was affiliated with the international fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon. The star spent the day enjoying it with her long-term husband, Phil Donahue, with whom she celebrated decades of marriage. Merv Griffin is a television host and media tycoon of America. At the time, it was the largest sale of an entertainment company owned by a single individual, and Forbes pronounced Griffin history's richest Hollywood performer. Griffin frequently chatted with audience members. Merv Griffin was a singer and band leader, movie actor, television personality and media mogul who in his time hosting The Merv Griffin Show (1962) was second in fame and influence as a talk show host only to Johnny Carson. He had short grey hair and brown eyes, his height was 5ft 9ins (1.75m) and he weighed around 175lbs (80kgs). The actress continued explaining her reasoning: "It seems like it's only a place for one-and-a-half persons, you know, the person that has the dream and the other person who supports the dream." (1964) for NBC. He also got enrolled at San Mateo Junior College and subsequently the University of San Francisco. Donahue denies using that word, but says, "It had better be an issue about which people care or we're all going to be parking cars.". Says Donahue, "Well, what does that mean? He bought his contract back from Warner Bros. and decided to devote his attention to a new medium: television. Merv Griffin was married to Julann Griffin from 1959 to 1976. "Since 'The $64,000 Question,' the network won't let you do those . He gave hog prices on the radio at 5:30 a.m., and his hand appeared twice on film used on the CBS Evening News. He was 82. . NBC finally cancelled it in 1989, when CBS picked it up for a year (only to return to NBC, when the daytime version was finally cancelled permanently in 1991). He doesn't just talk to the audience. Around that time, Griffin composed the show's best-known theme song, "Changing Keys", which was used in several variants of the show until 2000. Griffin also appeared in The Boy from Oklahoma and Phantom of the Rue Morgue (both 1954), but became disillusioned with movie-making. "It's no mystery to me why they are so conservative," Donahue says. He too appears vulnerable, capable of tears, joy or simply being left speechless when an 80-year-old woman says a man has "taken her to the stars.". "We also get an awful lot of phone calls and letters from people asking us to be on. The couple divorced in 1976. [8] During the Korean War several years later, he was examined and deemed healthy enough to serve, but by that time was above age 26 and exempt from the draft. during the weekend of August 1819, 2007. [2] He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway. (He revealed the epitaph on The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder. Arms wave. Sometime during the first two weeks -- Donahue can't remember when or why -- he walked into the audience and offered the microphone to a woman in the sixth row, who stood up and asked a question. Author Darwin Porters niche is posthumously outing celebrities. But it was in 1962 that his career took its most dramatic turn. He also created the still running game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. He continued to appear in films like The Boy from Oklahoma and Phantom of the Rue Morgue. [17] He landed a job as the host of a new television show, CBS-TV's Summer Holiday, a summer replacement for Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen and Jo Stafford's The Jo Stafford Show, which he co-hosted with Betty Ann Grove. [30][31][32][33][a] In early 1988, Trump wanted to take Resorts private; but Griffin, through Griffin Gaming & Entertainment, offered the minority shareholders significantly more than Trump in April 1988. Marlo agreed, revealing she had planned never to get married, and like her character in "That Girl," she was focused on her career and not a husband. That's when Griffin's wife pitched the . Of course, Porter has one thing working for him: almost no threat of litigation. His second show featured single men discussing what they liked in women. They became a couple, even though he lives in Chicago and she lives in New York. [8] He wrote years later in his autobiography that there was a deliberate effort to keep the public from finding out how he looked. "Obviously it's complicated," Donahue says. Dont let your closet compromise you to the point where you are actively harming your own people, even though you have the power to do so much good.. When he eventually decided to retire, he sold his production company Merv Griffin Enterprises to Columbia Pictures Television, after which he was named by Forbes as one of the richest Hollywood performers in history. Profits from his highly successful game shows made him one of the world's wealthiest entertainers. His Los Angeles Times obituary repeated a 1991 statement he had made regarding Plott's lawsuit: "This is a shameless attempt to extort money from me. His last game show was a wild show called Ruckus, which emanated from the Resorts International Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, which he owned at the time. He started the game show Jeopardy! in 1964. Also: speculation. My wife Julann just came up with the idea one day when we were in a plane bringing us back to New York from Duluth. After eight years he quit and tried his hand as a traveling salesman. Griffin, in 1964, also introduced a game show Jeopardy which was a big success. Marlo said as little girls, some women dreamt of becoming brides, mothers, actresses, wives, and ice skaters but never stepmothers. Griffin was considered the most successful of the guest hosts,[26] and was rewarded with his own daytime talk show on NBC in 1962. It became the first US Album to be recorded on a magnetic tape. The audience is small and compact, practically sitting in the guest's lap. The "Today" show signed him, as rumors spread that he'd soon jump to the networks. ", "Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicated", "Merv Griffin reported in grave condition", "Hundreds Pay Final Respects To Merv Griffin", "Merv Griffin Estate Sells for $7 Million", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Merv_Griffin&oldid=1142400827, "Banned in Boston" (#101, Pop Charts, 1961), "Changing Keys" (longtime theme music for, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 05:10. Can I put on Barry Goldwater, who thinks we ought to drop nuclear bombs? After 13 seasons as a daytime talk show host, Griffin retired from his talk show in 1986 to devote himself to producing his highly profitable game shows.Jeopardy! After Griffin's death, The Hollywood Reporter published a report stating that he had been a closeted gay man. He rarely expects answers to questions: He wants only punchy responses. "I like having a man in my life. Open homosexuality is a threat to the closeted, and powerful people in the closet like Merv Griffin will often do whatever it takes to squash those who are open and who might advocate that all among the powerful should come out. and Wheel of Fortune. You and Me.She has received three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Peabody Award for her work in television and has been inducted . Once, Donahue says, Walter Cronkite himself telephoned to say, "Phil, that was a goddamned good interview you sent us yesterday. Merv Griffin reaches only 3.9 million viewers, Mike Douglas 3.7 and Dinah Shore 2.8 million. He feels akin to a large corporation. [9], Freddy Martin heard him on the radio show and asked him to tour with his orchestra,[1] which he did for four years. While it would seem everything has changed today, little actually has. So she had to figure out how to be nice and good and realized early on that she shouldn't try to fill a mother-like role because they might resent that. after moving it twice on its daytime schedule, despite having an additional year on its network contract. Merv Griffin began his career as a singer on the radio at the age of 19. The former home of Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas in Westport, Conn., is going on the market for $28 million. What he made then was a far cry from the billionaire he was at the end., But what about the sex? Griffin never acknowledged he was gay, though it became widely known in Hollywood, even as Eva Gabor played his beard. (for which he still creates puzzles and questions.) The result is staccato silence between phrases -- quite unlike his fast-moving, loquacious television image. In 2021, Marlo gave some advice on how to make a marriage last. American Talk Show Host Merv Griffin was born Mervyn . Eva Gabor and Merv Griffin were in a relationship for 10 years before Eva Gabor died aged 76.. About. In 1991, Deney Terrio, host of the Griffin-created Dance Fever, sued Griffin, alleging sexual harassment, but the suit was dismissed. He lived with Roddy McDowall here at the Dakota, where he introduced Eddie Fisher to Elizabeth Taylor. Griffin's prostate cancer, treated originally in 1996, returned and he was admitted to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where his condition deteriorated, leading to his death on August 12, 2007 at the age of 82. "Why rock the boat?" Finally, Griffins closet had him firing gay men whod actually made it up through the ranks of his own company, simply because they were openly gay. I had more than a passing acquaintance with him, having worked on The Merv Griffin Show as a talent coordinator/segment producer in 1985-86 as the show was winding down. Not one to shy away from controversy, Griffin began to be harassed by CBS censors who objected to the antiwar statements of his guests and ordered him to feature pro-war guests for balance. He has made this huge amount of wealth through his dedication and contribution to show business to a greater extent. And lots about Mervs prolonged sexual tryst with Marlon Brando. When guests verge on breakdowns or exhibitionism, Donahue becomes a combination parish priest and understanding neighbor. Some guests receive a silent, comforting pat on the hand. After Fonda's appearance some sponsors said they wouldn't "pay for a program that tears America down." He was stuck in southwestern Ohio, where his Dayton journalistic high points included the moment in 1960 when he asked Pat Nixon if she were proud of her husband and spat in her eye on the "p.". In yet another stunner, the book claims Griffin - who died in 2007 at age 82 - carried on a longtime affair with Hollywood heavyweight Marlon Brando. The couple had one son. Merv Griffin was a singer and band leader, movie actor, television personality and media mogul who in his time hosting The Merv Griffin Show (1962) was second in fame and influence as a talk show host only to Johnny Carson. Peter Graves, Marlo Thomas, Barbara Eden, Della Reese, Roger Ray: With Merv Griffin, Barbara Eden, Peter Graves, Mort Lindsey. [46] He was a longtime member of the Republican Party.[47]. He was also close friends with Actress and former First Lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan, with who he shares the same birthdate, July 6. "Suddenly my phone was ringing," Donahue says. Their meeting was later described as love at first sight, and by 1980, the pair were married! As he recalls the past, Donahue stands again and begins to pace. Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. Then he continued his higher education at the University of San Francisco. What's important is that our conversation is interesting. We should point to his life for GLBT youth and say, Dont let this happen to you. Griffin was married to the former Julann Wright from 1958 to 1976; they remained friends after their divorce. And now hes doing it to Griffin withMerv Griffin: a Life in the Closet. Winner of 15 Emmy Awards, Griffin was presented an Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show Emmy for 1993-1994 as executive producer of Jeopardy! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You have entered an incorrect email address! . Menu. He also filled in for a week for the vacationing Bill Cullen on The Price Is Right, and for Bud Collyer on To Tell the Truth. This song remained a huge hit by selling 3 million copies. He lost his virginity, to a female, that is, when Judy Garland seduced him. Day arranged for a screen test at the Warner Bros. Studios for a role in By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953). In an Associated Press profile released before it premiered, he discussed the show's origins:[1]. [6], Griffin and First Lady Nancy Reagan exchanged birthday greetings each July 6 for their shared birthday. ACTRESS, Marlo Thomas, has been married to former daytime talk show host, Phil Donahue, for over 40 years. Margaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas (born November 21, 1937) is an American actress, producer, author, and social activist. Griffin also booked controversial guests like George Carlin, Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, Norman Mailer and Bertrand Russell. He died on August 12, 2007. [11] In 1947, he had a 15-minute Monday-to-Friday singing program on KFRC in San Francisco. He can't put a ribbon on them because, as media darlings, they can reveal as much or as little as they please. Merv Griffin, talk show host and game show creator, is shown on his talk show 'The Merv Griffin Show' which aired from 1962-1986 in this undated publicity photograph. He retained the title of creator of both his game shows. [48] In 2005 he accepted the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from the National University of Ireland, Galway; and in 2008 was posthumously inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Griffin and Grove were brought together by Byron Paul, producer of U.S.A. Canteen, and Irving Mansfield, Summer Holiday's creator. Helen was married to Lionel G. Turner for 67 years. Merv Griffin was a popular band singer, the host of his own successful talk show for over 20 years, the creator and producer of such long-running television game shows as Jeopardy! He died on August 12, 2007. I was mulling over game show ideas, when she noted that there had not been a successful 'question and answer' game on the air since the quiz show scandals.