Merv Griffin
| Merv Griffin | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Mervyn Edward Griffin, Jr. July 6, 1925 San Mateo, California, US |
| Died | August 12, 2007 (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Cause of death | Prostate cancer |
| Resting place |
Westwood Village Memorial Park, U.S. 34°03′30″N 118°26′28″W / 34.0583468°N 118.4411348°W |
| Occupation | Actor, talk show host, entertainer, business magnate |
| Years active | 1944–2007 |
| Spouse(s) | Julann Wright (m. 1958; div. 1976) |
| Children | Tony Griffin (b. 1959) |
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American television host, musician, singer, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in film and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show. He also created the internationally popular game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune through his television production companies, Merv Griffin Enterprises and Merv Griffin Entertainment. During his lifetime, Griffin was considered an entertainment business magnate.
Griffin was born July 6, 1925, in San Mateo, California to Mervyn Edward Griffin, Sr., a stockbroker, and Rita Elizabeth Griffin (née Robinson), a homemaker. The family was Irish American. Raised as a Roman Catholic, Griffin started singing in his church choir as a boy, and by his teens was earning extra money as a church organist. His abilities as a pianist played a part in his early entry into show business.
He attended San Mateo High School, graduating in 1942, and continued to aid in financing the school. He attended San Mateo Junior College and then the University of San Francisco. He was a member of the international fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon.
During World War II, Griffin was declared 4F after failing several military physical examinations due to having a slight heart murmur. 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 therefore exempt from the draft.
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