However, it returned years later and led to his death on 12th August 2007. ", 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. In 1975 Donahue set up housekeeping in suburban Chicago, and the women's magazines dubbed him "Bachelor-Father." "I like having a man in my life. The Jeopardy! What's important is that our conversation is interesting. Merv Griffin Net Worth 2023: Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids, Bio-Wiki. He also created the still running game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Merv Griffin was born on 6th July 1925 in San Francisco, California, to Mervyn Edward Griffin and Rita Elizabeth Griffin. There was Peter Lawford, Robert Walker, Gordon Scott the then-Tarzan. [5] The family was Irish American. Merv Griffin accomplished a lot and is, in his death, being held up as a example of a stellar Hollywood businessman. "What's important is the manner in which it is presented." Aug. 12, 2007 -- Merv Griffin, who parlayed a talent for talk and entertainment into a one-man business conglomerate, died of cancer early this morning. In 1991, he was sued by TV host Deney Terrio alleging sexual harassment. The resulting blurred image meant that Hoffman's voice emanated from a "jumble of lines". His height was 1.75 m tall and weighed 70 kg. 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 was during this period that he conceived the idea for what was to become one of the most successful game shows in television history, Jeopardy! Marlo Thomas, 2018 | Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas, 2022 | Source: Instagram.com/marlothomas | Getty Images. Arnold Schwarzenegger, later 38th governor of California, made his U.S. talk show debut on Griffin's show in 1974 after emigrating from Austria. Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. In 1965, Griffin launched a syndicated talk show for Group W (Westinghouse Broadcasting) titled The Merv Griffin Show. Of Griffin, Porter says, We met in 59 when he sang for my senior prom and the student committee paid him $500. He feels akin to a large corporation. Merv Griffin Allegedly Hid Sexuality & Had 15 Year Affair with Eva and Wheel of Fortune. Why should that be so uncomfortable to read? In a way, his show has been therapeutic for Donahue, who believes his personal life mirrors the problems discussed on TV: "The light's started to go on in me. So far, in the the rest of the obits on Griffin (Reuters, Associated Press) Ive seen nothing about his homosexuality. Though hed quietly led a gay life and had his pool parties filled with hot young men in years past, as well as a parade of boyfriends that was viewed as private information that was not discussed in mixed company. He carried on assisting the school financially. In an Associated Press profile released before it premiered, he discussed the show's origins:[1]. His second show featured single men discussing what they liked in women. Both lawsuits were eventually dismissed. Griffin began to sing at the age of 19 by making his appearance on San Francisco Sketchbook. The actress's stance made sense as she was one of the leaders in the women's movement. Merv was looking at notes for a new game show, and Julann asked if it was one of the knowledge-based games she liked. Merv Griffin was an example of how dangerous the closet can be and how the closet and power are a combustible combination that adversely affects so many other lives. He kept his wealth an open secret, amassing media outlets, hotels and casinos with a net worth estimated at more than $1 billion. Public response wasn't always entirely pleasant, but continued commercial success gave Donahue confidence. after moving it twice on its daytime schedule, despite having an additional year on its network contract. Merv died aged 82, so would've been 96 today. One regular attendee, Lillian Miller, became a fixture on the show throughout its run. Menu. The deal was signed in secret as a penalty clause in his CBS contract gave him $1 million in the event of his being fired. And now hes doing it to Griffin withMerv Griffin: a Life in the Closet. Meanwhile, his body is working fulltime. He married his college sweetheart in 1958, right after graduation. But answering questions in person, he chooses words carefully, as though any slip will damage his good-guy reputation. I can now reveal that The Mogul is Merv Griffin. A biography of television legend Merv Griffin claims tgat when he died in 2007, he left behind a legacy that includedWheel Of Fortune,Jeopardy, hotels, side business ventures, and more than a billion dollars. 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. In 2022, Marlo Thomas turned 85, and the other milestone she reached was celebrating 42 years of marriage after her husband, Phil Donahue changed her mind about marriage. 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. A biography of television legend Merv Griffin claims tgat when he died in 2007, he left behind a legacy that included Wheel Of Fortune, Jeopardy, hotels, side business ventures, and more than a billion dollars.Also: speculation. More than 8 1/2 million viewers in over 200 markets now watch him daily, eclipsing all other syndicated talk shows. So, is Phil Donahue Everyman? A staff of 15, mostly women, decides what gets on the show. Profits from his highly successful game shows made him one of the world's wealthiest entertainers. 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. [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. ", Donahue has been quoted as telling his staff, "I want all the topics hot . Marlo Thomas - Wikipedia The star had spent decades covering up his sexuality and even married comedienne Julann Wright, who gave him a son. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. ACTRESS, Marlo Thomas, has been married to former daytime talk show host, Phil Donahue, for over 40 years. Phil Donahue was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and it was his childhood goal to be a "good broadcaster." Peter Graves, Marlo Thomas, Barbara Eden, Della Reese, Roger Ray: With Merv Griffin, Barbara Eden, Peter Graves, Mort Lindsey. After eight years he quit and tried his hand as a traveling salesman. "There is no show without the audience," Donahue says. Also: speculation. He used to tackle bold subjects and also invited controversial guests such as George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Bertrand Russell. There are his experiences at Liberaces all-male orgies. Million Dollar Masters Tournament from 2002. Later that year, CBS terminated Griffin's late-night talk show and Griffin immediately made the transition to Metromedia's syndicated network.While Griffin may have been a washout in late night television (and he had LOTS of company - EVERYONE who went up against Carson lost the ratings race, and Johnny always came out the victor), Griffin's impact on daytime was immense, specifically through his production of game shows. First off, Griffins closet kept him shockingly silent while he had access to the president of the United States as his own people were dying. COPYRIGHT 2020 By TheLifeandTimesofHollywood.com, Stories From The Life and Times of Hollywood. The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series 1962-1986) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. That was not only focused on in the Denny Terrio lawsuit against Griffin but also was something that several Hollywood gay men told me about, offering first hand experience, while I was researching Queer in America back in the early 90s and some of this (though, for legal reasons not all) is reported on in the book. "That's not going to happen," he explains. marathon consisted of a rerun of the Jeopardy! 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. Imagine the amount of good Merv could have done as a well-respected, hugely successful, beloved and uncloseted gay man in embodying a positive image. He earned a whole heap of publicity b hosting and producing several different television shows. Throwback to Pie in Ann's Face | #TBT to this scene from That Girl He died on August 12, 2007. [51] He was buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, where his epitaph reads "I will not be right back after this message". 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.. Once, Donahue says, Walter Cronkite himself telephoned to say, "Phil, that was a goddamned good interview you sent us yesterday. The song reached the #1 spot on the Hit Parade and sold three million copies.[13]. We steal a lot from other shows," Donahue says. His mother, Rita Elizabeth Griffin, was a homemaker and father, Mervyn Edward Griffin; Sr. was an insurance broker. And yet, it is very important for reasons far beyond visibility or mere gossip. He also owns the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas in Arizona, and St. Clerans Manor, an 18th century estate once owned by director John Huston which is located near Galway, the premier resort destination in Ireland.In January 1998, Griffin opened The Coconut Club, one of the country's hottest swing/dance clubs, at his Beverly Hilton Hotel. . Even though Marlo had never intended to marry, she once admitted that it was "awful" being away from her husband. Griffin frequently chatted with audience members. They divorced in 1976 after 17 years of marriage. She recalled one of the questions he asked her, saying: "And he said to me, 'How come you've never married?' NBC-owned and -operated stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas carried it, with many stations airing two episodes per day. (1980) Aug 16, 2020 - Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas on their wedding day . That fall he became a radio reporter in Adrian, Mich. Donahue calls himself a "shy, insecure, vulnerable man-child." They Were Wrong", "Griffin Wins Resorts in Deal with Trump", "Helicopter Service Shuttles Gamblers to Casinos", "Merv Griffin Becomes New Owner of Resorts International", "Merv Rolls the Dice: Griffin and his debt-ridden Resorts International hotel and casino face tough odds in upcoming meetings with bondholders", "Merv Griffin's Resorts Files for Bankruptcy as Refinancing Fails", "In the Chatting Olympics, Look for Merv Griffin", "Affable TV host built an empire on 2 hit game shows", "All About Eva: Zsa Zsa's Little Sister Says It Hasn't Always Been Easy Being the Other Gabor", "Griffin Never Revealed Man Behind the Curtain", "The 'Jeopardy' Creator: Who Was Merv Griffin? Wheel barely escaped cancellation in 1980, when NBC replaced three of its other game shows with a daytime talk show starring David Letterman.