Merv Griffin, Entertainment Legend, Dies at 82

Entertainment-industry great, Merv Griffin, passed away on August 12, 2007 at the age of 82.  He died of prostate cancer, according a statement released by his family and The New York Times.

Griffin's incredible life in entertainment spans work as a radio vocalist, television personality, talk-show host, film actor, game-show producer, Broadway performer and theatre advocate, song-writer and businessman.

Born on July 6, 1925 in San Mateo, CA, Mervyn Edward Griffin made his start in entertainment in "The San Francisco Sketchbook," a radio program on San Francisco's KFRC.  Soon afterward he was invited to join FrEddy Martin's band as a vocalist, with which he toured and performed for four years.

From here, he pursued a solo recording career and reached billboard success with the number-one hit "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Cocoanuts," selling over three-million copies.  Griffin rolled into the big-screen (discovered by Doris Day) in the 1953 "So This is Love" as Buddy Nash.  His short-lived 1950s movie credits include "Cattle Town," "The Boy from Oklahoma," and "Phantom of the Rue Morgue."

Later his highly-popular talk-show "The Merv Griffin Show" debuted on NBC in 1962 and ran over 20 years in syndication and revived series.  But his biggest financial break occurred when he developed and produced the two American hit game-shows, "Jeopardy!" in 1964 and "Wheel of Fortune" in 1975; both still airing today.

In his later years, Griffin shaped himself into a billionaire as a real-estate investor, with hot properties in hotels, landing in the Forbes' list of the richest Americans on several occasions.

Griffin's short Broadway career (15 performances) was in the 1955 revival of Finian's Rainbow at City Center in the role of Woody Mahoney.  However, he was later a large proponent of the New York theatre, often inviting Broadway stars and shows to appear on his talk-show.

Merv Griffin is survived by his son Tony, his daughter-in-law Tricia and two grandchildren Donovan and Farah Mervyn.  His by-invitation-only funeral ceremony will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, CA. Flowers and donations, at request of the family, can be made to the Young Musicians Foundation.

Photo: Merv Griffin (2005) by Walter McBride