Discussion rapidly evolves into a group event, with Donahue roaming along the aisles, cajoling, flirting, taunting and enticing. Over the past 16 years of his life, however, Griffin deflected the sexuality questions with a quip, determining that his private life remained nobodys business. The show was a huge success and earned immense popularity. Movies. He next appeared in the movie So This is Love in a main role. While Carson's style was indebted to his long apprenticeship in Los Angeles in the 1950s, Griffin was based in New York, where he socialized with New York's theater and caf crowds. . Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas on their wedding day . When guests verge on breakdowns or exhibitionism, Donahue becomes a combination parish priest and understanding neighbor. The background to this was on November 12, when Resorts reached a tentative agreement with certain bondholders, several bondholders petitioned the United States Bankruptcy Court in Camden, New Jersey, to put the company into involuntary bankruptcy to protect legal claims they might have against Trump, the real estate investor Griffin outbid for Resorts the prior year. To a tearful father whose teenaged daughter died he says, "You must know that she wants you to be happy. He once said, "If they found Hitler, I'd be the first in line to interview him. [17][20] Griffin needed a place to stay and moved-in with Buzzell as his new roommate. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. In 2022, the star and her husband married for 42 years after giving their union a chance, and she nailed stepmotherhood! However, he soon became disillusioned with movies and bought his contract back from Warner Bros, after which he decided to focus on television. [32][34] After Trump paid $101 million for Resorts International Inc. in 1987, Griffin bought it back from him for $365 million and assumed the hotel-casino's debt of $925 million on November 15, 1988. GSN honored Griffin by airing ten-episode marathons of Wheel and Jeopardy! [20] When they had their first child, Cynthia Leigh Buzzell, on September 11, 1955, Griffin was named her godfather. Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. Profits from his highly successful game shows made him one of the world's wealthiest entertainers. (1984) He had also been the recipient of the coveted Scopus Award from the American Friends of Hebrew University, "The Duke Award" presented by the John Wayne Cancer Institute, and he had been honored by the American Ireland Fund and the SHARE organization. (His book reports that in 1978, 56 percent of his programs featured guests with something to sell.) From 1958 to 1962, Griffin hosted a game show called Play Your Hunch which was produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Subsequently, Sony Pictures Entertainment purchased Columbia and he retains the title of executive producer of both "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" 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. A post-burial reception was held at the Beverly Hilton, owned by Griffin from 1987 to 2003. [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. The competition is tough -- young, energetic hosts are constantly clawing for national access, and even the long-popular Mike Douglas was recently canceled. Marlo was 40 when she married the talk show host, and it was her first marriage. 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. Brent Plott, who had been his employee, also accused him of harassment. "Since 'The $64,000 Question,' the network won't let you do those . He also hosted a primetime ABC game show, Keep Talking. From that moment, "Donahue" became an audience-participation program. Having just hit bookstores, Porter is on a media tour a stop that includesCindy Adams column. And yet, because he was closeted it is highly unlikely he ever made the connection for the Reagans (between himself and those who were suffering and dying), pointed out the government negligence, or even talked openly as a gay person. He has made this huge amount of wealth through his dedication and contribution to show business to a greater extent. He carried on assisting the school financially. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. were produced: one on NBC that ran for five months in late 1978/early 1979, with Art Fleming returning as host; and the other airing in first-run syndication beginning September 10, 1984, starring Alex Trebek. "We read a lot of magazines. He certainly didnt owe us an explanation, but maybe he owed it to himself to remove the suffocating veil hed been forced to hide behind throughout his adult life. 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? "You've got to be hungry and ambitious," he says, explaining how he caters to his 85-percent-female audience: "Behavior issues are very big for us. 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. 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. Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue during the Iris Awards Banquet on March 4, 1978, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images. The "Today" show signed him, as rumors spread that he'd soon jump to the networks. This song remained a huge hit by selling 3 million copies. 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. "We had a woman whose baby was taken back by the adoption agency. When Treacher left the show in 1970, Griffin did the announcing himself, and walked on stage with the phrase "And now here I come!" [17] They had much in common and became instant friends, and Buzzell introduced Griffin to all of New York City's popular musicians and music executives. "[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]. And I began to examine why, listen to some of the shrinks and people who do our show. I began to realize that not much in the way we were raised encouraged that.". All through his childhood, he turned out to be a brilliant pianist who became the main reason for his adoption of show business. The audience quickly picks up his rhythm. [52], Some of the songs Griffin recorded were:[citation needed]. More than 8 1/2 million viewers in over 200 markets now watch him daily, eclipsing all other syndicated talk shows. The Modern Family star was previously married to her high school love Joe Gonzalez . Merv Griffin. The "That Girl" actress first met Marlo when she was on his talk show as a guest in 1977. Can I put on Barry Goldwater, who thinks we ought to drop nuclear bombs? 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. when actress Marlo Thomas . The new show featured live music with two singers while simulating a trip to various places in the world. [citation needed], He attended San Mateo High School, graduating in 1942, and continued to aid in financing the school. The "That Girl" star and her husband raised five children after the actress refused to be an evil fairy-tale-like stepmother. Griffin sold his empire to The Coca-Cola Company for $250million in 1986, then went on a buying spree of hotels, so that his wealth in 2003 was said to be around $1.2billion.[40]. Most of the folks Porter talks about and says Griffin was involved with are, like Griffin, dead. 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. "Suddenly my phone was ringing," Donahue says. Marlo revealed that even in 2020, she still wasn't sure she believed in marriage. On being wealthy, Griffin said, "when you walk down the street and everybody knows you're rich, they don't talk to you." The live 55-minute program was not successful, however, and was cancelled in 1963. . Merv Griffin began his career as a singer on the radio at the age of 19. Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. He married his college sweetheart in 1958, right after graduation. His first crush was Errol Flynn, whom he saw passed out naked on a couch. Being born on 6 July 1925, Merv Griffin was 82 years old at the time of his death. In addition, he served as a producer for several game shows such as Reach for the Stars and One in a Million. (See review in today's Book World section.). The star said they connected "fantastically," but their first date was awkward, with them staring at each other! During a May 2020 "Sunday Morning" interview, Marlo explained that the interview she had with Phil all those years back wasn't really one. "When half of America is saying, 'That guest got him,' believe me when I tell you it's fine with me." ", Joel Swerdlow; Joel Swerdlow is the coauthor of "Remote Control: Television. Donahue denied the rumors by signing a six-year contract to continue independent production. Some of his talk show remained a big hit and gained considerable rating all over the world. 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. With resignation in his voice, Donahue will concede that his show is "a platform for pitchmen," one endless commercial. 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. 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. Paul had already signed Grove for the show and was looking for a male co-host. Both programs shared Studio 6B at NBC's Rockefeller Center complex at the time, with Play Your Hunch airing live in the morning while Tonight taped later in the day. Griffin characterized both lawsuits as extortion. [citation needed], Griffin started as a singer on radio at age 19, appearing on San Francisco Sketchbook, a nationally syndicated program based at KFRC. Griffin was born July 6, 1925, in San Mateo, California, to Mervyn Edward Griffin Sr., a stockbroker, and Rita Elizabeth Griffin (ne Robinson),[3] a homemaker. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. So, is Phil Donahue Everyman? Whatever the goal of any particular program, Donahue is an emotional fellow traveler -- involved, sympathetic, respectful. (1984), which are watched by hundreds of millions of people all over the world. On Monday, Nov. 6, 1967, his first guest was Madalyn Murray O'Hair, the woman whose lawsuit eliminated prayer from public schools. There is no wise-cracking sidekick, band, desk or ashtray. Griffin's announcer/sidekick was veteran British character actor Arthur Treacher, who had been his mentor. Winner of 15 Emmy Awards, Griffin was presented an Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show Emmy for 1993-1994 as executive producer of Jeopardy! His 7-year-old grandson Donovan Mervyn was an honorary pallbearer, as was Nancy Reagan. Text. As of March 2023, Griffin has an estimated net worth of $1 billion. He created another game show Wheel of Fortune which aired from 1975. "We also get an awful lot of phone calls and letters from people asking us to be on. By 1976 he'd been canceled three times in New York, the nation's top market, and sadly decided he'd "become a candidate for a trivia contest two decades hence.". He married Julann Griffin, whom he divorced after some time. (He revealed the epitaph on The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder. As a result, this literally wiped out or greatly reduced the investments of the bondholders, so that Mr. Griffin could sue Trump and yet still retain a significant portion for himself. He died on August 12, 2007. [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. His mother, Rita Elizabeth Griffin, was a homemaker and father, Mervyn Edward Griffin; Sr. was an insurance broker. and Wheel remain on the air today. They likely knew, but it was unspoken, and that allowed all involved to just rationalize things to say to themselves that, well, Merv, is not like those other people, and to always believe that maybe it wasnt true anyway, and that he was truly dating Eva Gabor. Robert (Bob) Murphy, Griffin's best friend since sixth grade, was the producer of The Merv Griffin Show, and eventually became president of Merv Griffin Enterprises. Merv Griffin was married to Julann Griffin from 1959 to 1976. 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. His funeral was held at the Church of Good Shepherd in Beverley Hills which was attended by several celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Klugman and Catherine Oxenberg. . 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. He said that he did not know his actual worth because it "would keep me from sleeping at night". It ran for one summer. In 1975 Donahue set up housekeeping in suburban Chicago, and the women's magazines dubbed him "Bachelor-Father." He did it for Katharine Hepburn. [25] After Paar left The Tonight Show, but before Johnny Carson took over (Carson was still hosting Who Do You Trust? A pediatrician whom he accused of being too vain retorted, "When a child urinates on your tie at least once a week, it's hard to be too vain. Raised as a Catholic, Griffin started singing in his church choir as a boy, and by his teens was earning extra money as a church organist. In a December 1977 article, the actress recalled how Phil was a modern man and a single parent when they met. He was 82. Donahue calls himself a "shy, insecure, vulnerable man-child." Then another Dayton television station asked him to replace a local talk show host who had gone on to better things in Hollywood (he's now the announcer for Dinah Shore). A relationship that should be renewed and examined can't grow as long as we're not telling our women how we feel. It won several awards and nominations and has been adapted into numerous international versions. And television, he says, provides the public with what Lenny Bruce called "plastic puke." Helen was married to Lionel G. Turner for 67 years. "In a network situation," Donahue says, "one guy can end your career while he's shaving." We steal a lot from other shows," Donahue says. 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." Furthermore, he also remained the host of another game show Keep Talking released on ABC. "[42] He was otherwise secretive about his business and personal lives. [20] Buzzell died of a heart attack in 1959, but Griffin stayed close to Simms for the rest of her life and had her as a guest on his talk show many times.[22][23][24]. You and the ayatollah are the only two people that would work for.". Why not do a switch, and give the answers to the contestant and let them come up with the question. "Just your picture. Griffin later claimed in interviews that he was best man at their wedding, but was in fact one of the four ushers. Griffins gay brothers his friends, his lovers, his people across America, around the world suffered and met horrific deaths. He grins or grimaces extravagantly. 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.". Griffin was married to the former Julann Wright from 1958 to 1976; they remained friends after their divorce. Those who dont cant really be faulted, as rarely do honesty and full disclosure prove a boon to ones showbiz livelihood. Soon after, he released his first album Songs of Merv 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. [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. Marlo Thomas . Griffin was also an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in 2004, having been the Reagans' friends for many years. Aside from his game shows, he also ventured into real estate and purchased the Beverley Hilton Hotel and later the Resorts International. Griffin frequently chatted with audience members. 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. 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? 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.". 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. The Jeopardy! Not even lukewarm -- hot!" [7], During World War II, Griffin was declared 4F after failing several military physical examinations due to a slight heart murmur. After Fonda's appearance some sponsors said they wouldn't "pay for a program that tears America down." In 1975, NBC canceled Jeopardy! He started his professional life by joining the radio as well as by singing in collaboration with a big band. 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. In effect, Donahue has 200 bosses and they provide a fascinating study in what the public will tolerate -- even seek -- once outside the networks. The Famous Psychologist's Wife Has Never Missed a Taping, Julia Roberts Is Living Her Dream with Kids & Spouse of 20 Years at Rustic Ranch after Becoming Mom at 39, Dr Phil & His Wife of 46 Years Are Still in Love in $29.5M Home after They Sold Their 'Weird' Mansion, Geena Davis Became Mom of 3 at 48 Her 20-Year Marriage Ended & Much Younger Spouse Asked For Spousal Support, Jenna Bush Hager 'Smooched' Husband on 1st Meeting & Proposed to Him Later They've Made It to 14 Years. Griffin disliked the censorship imposed by CBS and complained. Type. Also: speculation. and Wheel of Fortune, is remembered as a television pioneer for his role developing the game show format. That fall he became a radio reporter in Adrian, Mich. 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. Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. August 12, 2007) was an American television host, singer, and media mogul behind Merv Griffin Enterprises. To a dying 18-year-old he says, "That's a real punch in the nose. His program is television's most consistent forum for provocative, controversial subject matter: lesbian couples adopting children; parents of homosexuals; breast-feeding mothers; unwed mothers; elderly people living together out of wedlock; victims of incest. ", Donahue can conceive of absolutely no topic that could hurt his career. On the other hand, Phil had been married before and welcomed five children, making his new wife a stepmother. [17][20][21] After the wedding, and about two months after arriving in the city, Griffin moved into a different apartment, but in the same building, and remained lifelong friends with Buzzell and Simms. Day arranged for a screen test at the Warner Bros. Studios for a role in By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953). He lost his virginity, to a female, that is, when Judy Garland seduced him. 10k followers . She is best known for starring on the sitcom That Girl (1966-1971) and her children's franchise Free to Be.