Donahue says that as an adolescent he considered "dates always an occasion for sin." American Talk Show Host Merv Griffin was born Mervyn . I noticed that my children weren't really sharing feelings with me -- and one of the reasons was I don't do a hell of a lot of sharing with them in terms of feelings. Merv Griffin might be best remembered as the guy who introduced Nancy Reagan to her astrologer were it not for a 1963 plane ride. The "Sunday Morning" thought being independent and single had become the star's brand. In 1954, Griffin appeared in several Cincraft Productions sponsored films including a musical, Milestones of Motoring with Joe E. Brown and Rita Farrell. and 'Wheel of Fortune'), https://www.naukrinama.com/stressbuster/richest-male-actors-in-the-world/merv-griffin/, http://mervgriffinabc.blogspot.com/2009/05/game-show-creator-griffin-created-and.html, http://gameshows.wikia.com/wiki/Merv_Griffin, http://jeopardyhistory.wikia.com/wiki/Merv_Griffin. National audiences eventually got a look at it via reruns that aired on GSN. Griffin did not get the part, but the screen test led to supporting roles in other musical films such as So This Is Love (also 1953),[14] which caused a minor controversy when Griffin shared an open-mouthed kiss with Kathryn Grayson. "[43], Griffin was a constant companion of actress Eva Gabor from the mid-1980s until her death in 1995, though she told the press in 1990 that they had never been lovers.[44]. The star complained at the time that no one asked men if they wanted to be fathers of doctors, and she felt women's choices shouldn't be that linear either because she wanted it all. And now hes doing it to Griffin withMerv Griffin: a Life in the Closet. Playing to the camera unmercifully, he leans close, interrupts, turns his back and challenges. CBS gave Griffin a late-night show opposite Carson in 1969. More than 8 1/2 million viewers in over 200 markets now watch him daily, eclipsing all other syndicated talk shows. His performance on the radio was heard by American musician Freddy Martin, who asked him to tour with his orchestras, which he did for a few years. Rumors about Griffin's sexuality followed him for much of his life. Donahue inherited not only the show, but a live studio audience whom he decided not to burden with yet another song-and-dance program. Griffin was best known for creating the two most popular game shows in television syndication history, Wheel of Fortune (1983) and Jeopardy! And lots about Mervs prolonged sexual tryst with Marlon Brando. Born in Kansas City, MO, Menorah Hospital to Helen Hollenbeck Ford and Fred C. Ford. Marlo was 40 when she married the talk show host, and it was her first marriage. He then did orchestra for four years after getting selected by Freddy Martin. Round, which became the iconic melody of the theme for the syndicated version of the show hosted by Alex Trebek in 1984. To a dying 18-year-old he says, "That's a real punch in the nose. Aug 16, 2020 - Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas on their wedding day . (GSN, 1998, both for children); Rock & Roll Jeopardy! [41] In an interview with The New York Times published on May 26, 2005, Griffin recalled a quip he frequently used when asked about his private life: "I tell everybody that I'm a quarter-sexual. and Wheel of Fortune. 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. On being wealthy, Griffin said, "when you walk down the street and everybody knows you're rich, they don't talk to you." The guests on the Westinghouse show were an eclectic mix of entertainers, authors, politicians, and "personality" performers like Zsa Zsa Gabor. 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). [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. This man was intimate with the Reagans (and Nancy Reagan in particular) during the height of the AIDS epidemic in 80s, with few treatments available and fear-mongering having gripped the media. She explained how she'd tried to portray a first for television - a young girl who wasn't thinking about marriage and instead about who she could be in the world. "Why rock the boat?" The "That Girl" actress first met Marlo when she was on his talk show as a guest in 1977. But Donahue is top dog becuase he has attracted and maintained an extraordinarily large audience. 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.. Subsequently, Sony Pictures Entertainment purchased Columbia and he retains the title of executive producer of both "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" In 1965, Griffin launched a syndicated talk show for Group W (Westinghouse Broadcasting) titled The Merv Griffin Show. Their meeting was later described as love at first sight, and by 1980, the pair were married! The book also reveals that Merv slept with Rebel Without a Cause heartthrob James Dean, film legend Montgomery Clift and Kennedy in-law Peter Lawford. [10], By 1945, Griffin had earned enough money to form his own record label, Panda Records, which produced Songs by Merv Griffin, the first U.S. album ever recorded on magnetic tape. ", Donahue said, "Thank you, Walter," and promptly fired off audition tapes and glossies. "Obviously it's complicated," Donahue says. 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! Why is it so difficult to write? Merv died aged 82, so would've been 96 today. A relationship that should be renewed and examined can't grow as long as we're not telling our women how we feel. It became the first US Album to be recorded on a magnetic tape. . Im thinking perhaps the Times editors really took it to heart when many of us criticized them after Susan Sontags death and the obituary cover-up of her sexual orientation and her relationship with Annie Liebovitz. In his book Merv, written with David Bender in 2003, he stated that it would be "Stay Tuned".). Pallbearers included Griffin Group vice-chairman Ron Ward, President Robert Pritchard, and Vice President Michael Eyre, as well as Tony Griffin. "To say 'yes' to that question flatters me," he says, pausing to look at the wall as though hoping to see the proper answer. Griffin never acknowledged he was gay, though it became widely known in Hollywood, even as Eva Gabor played his beard. (2002) remains the second highest rated game show in television syndication while Wheel of Fortune (1983) continues to be the longest running game show to hold the number one spot in television syndication history. All through his childhood, he turned out to be a brilliant pianist who became the main reason for his adoption of show business. Margaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas (born November 21, 1937) is an American actress, producer, author, and social activist. She cried on the air," he says proudly. Ironically, weeks after being on Phil's show, Marlo was a regular guest at his Winnetka, Illinois home, where he raised four sons. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. AT SIMON & SCHUSTER, they were excited. [18][19], That summer, Griffin became acquainted with music publisher Loring Buzzell. From 1958 to 1962, Griffin hosted a game show called Play Your Hunch which was produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. However, she explained she thought in hers but didn't have the same feelings toward the institution of marriage because she wasn't sure it was "rigged against the woman. [5] The family was Irish American. She noted how no one wanted to be a stepmother cause they were seen as villains in children's stories. Even though Marlo had never intended to marry, she once admitted that it was "awful" being away from her husband. Winner of 15 Emmy Awards, Griffin was presented an Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show Emmy for 1993-1994 as executive producer of Jeopardy! (1980) Aug 16, 2020 - Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas on their wedding day . It ran for one summer. 24K views, 950 likes, 99 loves, 117 comments, 155 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Marlo Thomas: #TBT to this scene from That Girl. Griffin was considered the most successful of the guest hosts,[26] and was rewarded with his own daytime talk show on NBC in 1962. I keep it to his A-list dates like Rock Hudson, whom he met through Henry Wilson, Rocks agent, and who advised him to keep his sexuality quiet. Among his private passions are his family, son Tony Griffin, daughter-in-law Tricia, and grandchildren Farah and Donovan Mervyn, his long-haired sharpei dog Charlie Chan, his La Quinta ranch near Carmel, where he raises thoroughbred racing horses, and his 135 foot, four-story high ocean going yacht, Griff. In addition, he served as a producer for several game shows such as Reach for the Stars and One in a Million. The star had spent decades covering up his sexuality and even married comedienne Julann Wright, who gave him a 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. He carried on assisting the school financially. [20] When they had their first child, Cynthia Leigh Buzzell, on September 11, 1955, Griffin was named her godfather. I will do anything with anybody for a quarter. Neither Cronkite nor CBS responded, a silence echoed by everyone else to whom the ambitious Donahue mailed resumes. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. He became increasingly popular with nightclub audiences and his fame soared among the general public when he struck gold in 1950 with "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts", which reached the number one spot on the Hit Parade and sold three million copies.Continuing to record hits, including "Wilhelmina" and "Never Been Kissed", Griffin made a foray into motion pictures after Doris Day saw his nightclub performance and arranged a screen test for him at Warner Bros. Studios. And I began to examine why, listen to some of the shrinks and people who do our show. A staff of 15, mostly women, decides what gets on the show. Every comedian ends up, one day, taking a pie in the face. . Family. He had dedicated two of his shows to the topics of Transcendental Meditation and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. That's when Griffin's wife pitched the . What's important is that our conversation is interesting. marathon consisted of a rerun of the Jeopardy! Griffin was also an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in 2004, having been the Reagans' friends for many years. He is the only son of Merv Griffin and Julann Wright. The spin-offs included the children's shows Wheel 2000 (CBS, 1997), and the short-lived Jep! During a May 2020 "Sunday Morning" interview, Marlo explained that the interview she had with Phil all those years back wasn't really one. Top-rate talent rarely visited Dayton, Donahue says, and those who did would ask him, "What am I doing here?" Donahue feels his success has given other talk shows "more courage" and that the public will soon see fewer entertainers talking about "how long it took to make their last movie." Griffin produced the show's successor, Wheel of Fortune, which premiered January 6, 1975 with host Chuck Woolery and hostess Susan Stafford, and had high ratings throughout its network run. Of Griffin, Porter says, We met in 59 when he sang for my senior prom and the student committee paid him $500. Two revivals of Jeopardy! None of this has to be true for him to get a book deal without worrying about getting sued. The second show aired as a standalone special in some regions such as Canada. Six years later they had five children, two born in the same year. Discussion rapidly evolves into a group event, with Donahue roaming along the aisles, cajoling, flirting, taunting and enticing. He rose as far as possible in Dayton -- anchoring the television news and hosting a radio call-in show. 10k followers . His charges are ridiculous and untrue. That's one of the nice things about being hot. But he is Man-Child in Television Land, and viewers get to know him not as they know Walter Cronkite, but as they know Archie Bunker and Hawkeye Pierce. When Treacher left the show in 1970, Griffin did the announcing himself, and walked on stage with the phrase "And now here I come!" The theme returned to the show in 2021 at the start of season 39. . He died on August 12, 2007. [citation needed], He attended San Mateo High School, graduating in 1942, and continued to aid in financing the school. In addition, he produced two different shows for NBC, such as Lets Play Post Office in 1965 as well as Reach for the Stars in 1967, plus for ABC; he produced One in a Million in 1967. His best years, he fears, may already be behind him: "The most creative, innovative ideas come from people with the least power and the least to lose." Rumors about Griffin being gay arent new, and they werent helped by two lawsuits (a palimony claim, and a sexual harassment charge) by two dudes in the 90s. One of Merv Griffins most important works was his talk show The Merv Griffin Show. Griffin frequently chatted with audience members. (1980) Francie Shaffer. Some of his highly famous songs are Christmas City, Never Been Kissed, The Charanga, Wilhelmina, Happy To Know You, Banned in Boston, etc. His first work on the big screen was an unaccredited role in the 1953 horror sci-fi movie The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. "We had a woman whose baby was taken back by the adoption agency. 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. The syndicated versions of both Jeopardy! Once, Donahue says, Walter Cronkite himself telephoned to say, "Phil, that was a goddamned good interview you sent us yesterday. Some guests receive a silent, comforting pat on the hand. 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.". On November 21, 2022, Marlo Thomas celebrated her birthday by turning 85! That fall he became a radio reporter in Adrian, Mich. 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. Other Griffin successes in the game show field included "One in a Million" and Joe Garagiola's Memory Game (1971), both airing on ABC, Let's Play Post Office on NBC, and Reach for the Stars (1967).In 1986, Griffin sold his production company, Merv Griffin Enterprises, to Coca-Cola's Columbia Pictures Television unit for $250 million as well as a continuing share of the profits of the shows. Hungarian Actress Eva Gabor was born on 11th February, 1919 in Budapest, Hungary and passed away on 4th Jul 1995 Los Angeles, California, USA aged 76. While it would seem everything has changed today, little actually has. He was overweight as an adolescent and a young man, which disappointed some radio fans when they saw him in person. It aired in a variety of time slots throughout North America; many stations ran it in the daytime, others aired it in primetime, and a few broadcast it opposite Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. But he should also be held up as man who, like Malcolm Forbes before him, was hugely influential and powerful and yet still allowed the closet and homophobia to manipulate his life, and to cause him to do harm to his own people. He served as Executive Producer of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" (2000).After his retirement from daytime chat, Merv became a real estate baron, acquiring the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, which is now the venue of choice for virtually all of the Tinseltown's most high profile events such as The Golden Globe Awards, The Soap Opera Digest Awards, and The American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Awards. Then he continued his higher education at the University of San Francisco. and Wheel remain on the air today. And if that wasnt scandalous enough: I write that friends who went to school with him in San Mateo say, when he was a young homosexual growing up, he was sexually molested by a priest. "We also get an awful lot of phone calls and letters from people asking us to be on. In 1977, Thomas was a guest on the daytime TV television show called Donahue. She returned to her native New Mexico, remarried and disappeared from public view -- until now, with publication of a "family" picture in Donahue's book. He lost his virginity, to a female, that is, when Judy Garland seduced him. He gained massive popularity with Ive Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts, which was a big hit in 1950. . As he recalls the past, Donahue stands again and begins to pace. "How important is love?" What he made then was a far cry from the billionaire he was at the end., But what about the sex? "Even if there's spinach in my teeth, it goes," Donahue says. He also created the game shows Jeopardy! In 1974, under intense pressure to "put some glitter in the show," he moved to Chicago, hoping to attract better guests and big-city flair. You know, men and women, and 'he doesn't kiss me anymore.'". in 1964. "We read a lot of magazines. Secondly, Griffins closet had him engaging in workplace sexual harassment, something that, as I showed in my 1993 book Queer in America, is common among closeted powerful men, who often are simply seeking outlets for sex. [37][38] Cashflow was about $70 million short of what was needed to service the Resorts' debt in 1989,[34] and Griffin sought bankruptcy court protection for Resorts on December 23, 1989.[39]. [45] The article was later altered due to protests from his friends and business associates. An avid fan of puzzles since childhood, Griffin first produced a successful game show in 1964, Jeopardy! Yet, it was nothing discussed in the media and, apparently, in many of his own circles, particularly straight political circles. ", Donahue has been quoted as telling his staff, "I want all the topics hot . But in a New York office recently, Donahue looked much more subdued that he does goes on television, his eyes more pale and penetrating. After 17 years, his wife left him. He's not afraid to sound stupid, either. Maybe you know about Merv Griffin very well But do you know how old was he at the time of his death and what is his net worth in 2023? . Marlo shared how her dreams of becoming a mother were frustrated by her ambitions and society. From that moment, "Donahue" became an audience-participation program. [16] He decided to spend the summer of 1954 in New York City. He used to tackle bold subjects and also invited controversial guests such as George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Bertrand Russell. Part of the deal was that Trump would buy Resorts' interest in the yet-to-be-constructed Taj Mahal project for $273million, and that Trump would own Resorts International Air, which included three Sikorsky S-61 helicopters. He maintained a virtual male harem and a pimp who supplied porn stars, but I dont go into his pay-for-gay guys. In 1991, he was sued by TV host Deney Terrio alleging sexual harassment. Also, he founded two TV production organizations Merv Griffin Entertainment and Merv Griffin Enterprises. Fingers point. In 1963, NBC offered him the opportunity to host a new game show, Word for Word, which Griffin produced. When philosopher and anti-war activist Bertrand Russell used the show to condemn the war in Vietnam, Griffin was criticized for letting Russell have his say. He grins or grimaces extravagantly. The show, originally titled What's the Question?, premiered on NBC on March 30, 1964, hosted by Art Fleming, and ran for 11 years. Overlooking Long Island Sound, the home is on tony . Aren't you?" Self 5 episodes, 1969-1974 Melba Moore . He works live (most markets broadcast an unedited tape). When political activist Abbie Hoffman was his guest in April 1970, CBS blurred the video of Hoffman so viewers at home would not see his trademark American flag pattern shirt, even though other guests had worn the same shirt in the past, uncensored. was merv griffin married to marlo thomas. 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. "They see in me a way to produce some income. Griffin became the host of The Merv Griffin Show, which was his own talk show. Wednesday brought an obstetrician, and on Thursday he climbed into a coffin as he interviewed a mortician. You and the ayatollah are the only two people that would work for.". [2] He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway. Instead, she became a friend of the four boys', and when she got to know them and vice versa, they trusted her and accepted her in their lives. Merv Griffin began his career as a singer on the radio at the age of 19. This show was initially aired on NBC. In 2005, he told . It gained traction in 1991 when he was targeted in a pair of lawsuits: by Dance Fever host Denny Terrio, alleging sexual harassment; and by assistant Brent Plott seeking $200 million in palimony. ", Donahue can conceive of absolutely no topic that could hurt his career. [29], In 1988, he purchased Resorts International and two of their hotels, one in Atlantic City, New Jersey; and another on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, from Donald Trump and other investors. LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Merv Griffin was gay. "Spokeswoman: 'Jeopardy' inventor Merv Griffin dies at 82", "Daily Press: Hampton Roads News, Virginia News & Videos", "Merv Griffin, Television Innovator, Dies at 82", "Frater Merv Griffin Passes into the Chapter Eternal", "Lean Days are Better; Griffin Shed Weight and Song to Be a TV Host", "Entertainment Legend Merv Griffin Dies At 82", "(Advertisment) Thanks: The Merv Griffin Show", "Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; founded Transcendental Meditation movement", "For Merv Griffin, 14 Seconds Can Last a Lifetime", "Griffin buys Resorts; Trump to get Taj Mahal", "Merv Griffin's Outrageous Fortune: When Millionaire Griffin Took on Billionaire Trump, They Said It Was a Mismatch. Merv Griffin. However, in 1997 she thought she still had a chance, but she and Phil never had any of their own. In 1969, CBS hired Griffin to directly compete with Carson in the 11:30 PM to 1:00 AM time slot that had proven a grave yard for other personalities. "Suddenly my phone was ringing," Donahue says. "We're talking about a medium that evaluates people according to the force with which they can communicate ideas," Donahue explains. COPYRIGHT 2020 By TheLifeandTimesofHollywood.com, Stories From The Life and Times of Hollywood. He attended San Mateo Junior College and then the University of San Francisco. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You have entered an incorrect email address! He rarely expects answers to questions: He wants only punchy responses. On the other hand, Phil had been married before and welcomed five children, making his new wife a stepmother. 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. Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. So he returned to his radio roots and focused on marriage, illness, sexuality, death and other problems "ordinary" people could discuss. To a tearful father whose teenaged daughter died he says, "You must know that she wants you to be happy. ", Donahue loves it. Paul had already signed Grove for the show and was looking for a male co-host. His real problems, he says, were economic. At one of his nightclub performances, Griffin was discovered by Doris Day. And there was a young James Dean selling his sex for cash. I had interviewed many gay men whod known Griffin as gay, as well as men who told stories about how his closet had him doing horrendous things and how he was threatened by openly gay people. I said, I just don't believe it's for me.". 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. 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!' Day arranged for a screen test at the Warner Bros. Studios for a role in By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953). after moving it twice on its daytime schedule, despite having an additional year on its network contract. 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. He did it for Katharine Hepburn. Phil's wife said in marriage; you have to know the other person has your back and that her union was the safest place she could be, and the talk show host was her everything and life cushion. Marlo was 40 when she married the talk show host, and it was her first marriage. 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." 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. Although Griffin married and reportedly had affairs with several women, including Judy Garland, his ", He feels he's let America see it all -- a homosexual in 1968, Jane Fonda in 1969, even a Nazi who said blacks and Jews should be deported. "The irony of the situation wasn't wasted on me", Griffin recalls in his autobiography. Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. The actress's stance made sense as she was one of the leaders in the women's movement. Less than half an hour after that report would have been aired, WNBC in New York (owned by the network) broadcast an hour-long "Donahue" on the same subject. They divorced in 1976 after 17 years of marriage. 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. [25] After Paar left The Tonight Show, but before Johnny Carson took over (Carson was still hosting Who Do You Trust? GSN honored Griffin by airing ten-episode marathons of Wheel and Jeopardy! Griffin and Grove were brought together by Byron Paul, producer of U.S.A. Canteen, and Irving Mansfield, Summer Holiday's creator. Griffin later claimed in interviews that he was best man at their wedding, but was in fact one of the four ushers. Marlo Thomas and her husband Phil Donahue in New York, circa 1970 | Source: Getty Images. He also used to earn money as an organist. Griffin also booked controversial guests like George Carlin, Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, Norman Mailer and Bertrand Russell. When guests verge on breakdowns or exhibitionism, Donahue becomes a combination parish priest and understanding neighbor. However, it returned years later and led to his death on 12th August 2007. Merv Griffin reaches only 3.9 million viewers, Mike Douglas 3.7 and Dinah Shore 2.8 million. He didn't need CBS, NBC or ABC. They had one child, Tony Griffin, born in 1959. His first encounter, a boyhood friend he grew up with, later tried writing a book about Merv. "Let's put a ribbon on this," he tells the long-winded. Though dismissed, the lawsuits put Griffin on the spot, and while he never denied being gay, he didnt own it either. He'd defeated them at their own game.
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