"It's no mystery to me why they are so conservative," Donahue says. . Griffin was a well-known TV personality who died on 12 August 2007 due to prostate cancer. National audiences eventually got a look at it via reruns that aired on GSN. [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]. They moan, gasp and applaud, and surround him with a chorus of questions and arguments. [8] He wrote years later in his autobiography that there was a deliberate effort to keep the public from finding out how he looked. This continued after her two terms as First Lady. Danny said the female audience was lucky to spend an hour with "two of the world's most attractive men." Neither Cronkite nor CBS responded, a silence echoed by everyone else to whom the ambitious Donahue mailed resumes. Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. His height was 1.75 m tall and weighed 70 kg. In 1975 Donahue set up housekeeping in suburban Chicago, and the women's magazines dubbed him "Bachelor-Father." "[42] He was otherwise secretive about his business and personal lives. He married Julann Griffin, whom he divorced after some time. Griffin, in 1964, also introduced a game show Jeopardy which was a big success. CBS gave Griffin a late-night show opposite Carson in 1969. Brynn Hartman Struggled with Self-Esteem and Her Husband's Absence Who Was Phil Hartman's Wife? November 25, 1926 - February 24, 2023. After 17 years, his wife left him. ", Donahue loves it. Even in the capital of entertainment -- in a business where homosexuality isnt exactly a rare phenomenon -- its still spoken of in hushed tones or, more often, not at all. Arms wave. More than 8 1/2 million viewers in over 200 markets now watch him daily, eclipsing all other syndicated talk shows. Marlo Thomas Was Scared of Being Stepmom to Phil Donahue's 5 Kids They Are Proud of Gaggle of Grandkids Now, Why Is Robin Always on Dr. Phil's Show? He was commended for booking such guests, but also widely criticized for it. He retained the title of creator of both his game shows. Merv Griffin, the creator of Jeopardy! It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and numerous Emmy Awards, out of which it won eleven. In 1969 "Donahue" (until 1974 called "The Phil Donahue Show") entered national syndication, but half a decade later his salesman quit because the show was stuck at around 40 markets and "just couldn't sell." 2 Phil Donahue is a daytime television icon Credit: Getty Images - Getty Who is Phil Donahue? [35] He had used $325 million in junk bond financing at nearly 14% from Drexel Burnham Lambert's Michael Milken, but suspended interest payments in early 1989. To a dying 18-year-old he says, "That's a real punch in the nose. Both lawsuits were eventually dismissed. A post-burial reception was held at the Beverly Hilton, owned by Griffin from 1987 to 2003. Every comedian ends up, one day, taking a pie in the face. 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. To Donahue, danger comes not from sponsors or subscribing stations, but from his own instincts for self-preservation. In the 1980s, Griffin purchased the Paradise Island Resort and Casino in the Bahamas for $400million from Trump, but later sold it for just $125million. 24K views, 950 likes, 99 loves, 117 comments, 155 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Marlo Thomas: #TBT to this scene from That Girl. . 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. 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. This former bodyguard and horse trainer was paid $250 a week, lived in one of two apartments underneath my former house as part of his security function, and left my payroll six or seven years ago. It lasted only one season, with its last episode on May 16, 2008, but has had reruns on various channels. 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. Not even lukewarm -- hot!" "We don't like to discuss sex at that hour of the morning," NBC explained. At the same time, however, in success he sees the seeds of destruction. he asks a dying child. Griffin was married to Julann Wright, and together they had a son named Anthony. This song remained a huge hit by selling 3 million copies. He carried on assisting the school financially. He was a famous but unsuccesssful single until 1977, when actress Marlo Thomas made her second appearance on his program. He had dedicated two of his shows to the topics of Transcendental Meditation and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. ", So, talking about marriage with Phil on his show wasn't easy for her. and Wheel of Fortune. Why is it so difficult to write? The "Today" show signed him, as rumors spread that he'd soon jump to the networks. But in 1978 New York's WNBC bought "Donahue" for the second time and he began to capture the nation's attention. Marlo Thomas, 2018 | Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas, 2022 | Source: Instagram.com/marlothomas | Getty Images. All through his lifespan, he was renowned as an entertainment business mogul. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Griffin ventured into real estate, purchasing the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 1987. The competition is tough -- young, energetic hosts are constantly clawing for national access, and even the long-popular Mike Douglas was recently canceled. "Even if there's spinach in my teeth, it goes," Donahue says. On November 21, 2022, Marlo Thomas celebrated her birthday by turning 85! Merv Griffin had an encounter with Betty Kelly. At 72, onetime crooner Merv Grifn has parlayed the $250 million sale of his game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune in 1986 into a billion-dollar empire that encompasses two production . ", Donahue has been quoted as telling his staff, "I want all the topics hot . Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. and Wheel of Fortune, and a wealthy media mogul. 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. [6] He was a member of the international fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon. He doesn't just talk to the audience. [7], During World War II, Griffin was declared 4F after failing several military physical examinations due to a slight heart murmur. His father was a stockbroker while his mother was a homemaker. He married Julann Griffin, whom he divorced after some time. In 1977, Thomas was a guest on the daytime TV television show called Donahue. 10k followers . From 1965 to 1986 he hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show. Even though they divorced, they continued being good friends. When he was fired a few months later, his new show began the following Monday, and ran until the mid-1980s. In 1998, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs was dedicated to him. The Amazing Johnathan left the show after 65 episodes because of a contract dispute, and it was scrapped before it was nationally syndicated. ", "Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicated", "Merv Griffin reported in grave condition", "Hundreds Pay Final Respects To Merv Griffin", "Merv Griffin Estate Sells for $7 Million", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Merv_Griffin&oldid=1142400827, "Banned in Boston" (#101, Pop Charts, 1961), "Changing Keys" (longtime theme music for, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 05:10. It was these games which inspired him to create the game show Wheel of Fortune in 1975. 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. The former home of Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas in Westport, Conn., is going on the market for $28 million. His last game show was a wild show called Ruckus, which emanated from the Resorts International Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, which he owned at the time. [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. for ABC), Griffin was one of the many guest hosts who presided over Tonight in the interim. Also: speculation. Sometime during the first two weeks -- Donahue can't remember when or why -- he walked into the audience and offered the microphone to a woman in the sixth row, who stood up and asked a question. Griffin also booked controversial guests like George Carlin, Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, Norman Mailer and Bertrand Russell. 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. Open homosexuality is a threat to the closeted, and powerful people in the closet like Merv Griffin will often do whatever it takes to squash those who are open and who might advocate that all among the powerful should come out. Yet, it was nothing discussed in the media and, apparently, in many of his own circles, particularly straight political circles. [6], Griffin and First Lady Nancy Reagan exchanged birthday greetings each July 6 for their shared birthday. 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. The actress's stance made sense as she was one of the leaders in the women's movement. She fired a couple of answers to me: '5,280' and the question of course was how many feet in a mile. This show was aired on for almost 21 years and achieved 11 Emmy awards all through its course. (1980) Aug 16, 2020 - Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas on their wedding day . Griffin dedicated two shows, in 1975 and 1977, to Transcendental Meditation and its founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He also created the still running game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. His 7-year-old grandson Donovan Mervyn was an honorary pallbearer, as was Nancy Reagan. The couple divorced in 1976. As his family was Roman Catholic, he started signing in the church from an early age. National magazines ran complimentary stories. He attended San Mateo High School from where he graduated in 1942. "The more drawn into the Hollywood trappings he . What he made then was a far cry from the billionaire he was at the end., But what about the sex? We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. I loved the idea, went straight to NBC with the idea, and they bought it without even looking at a pilot show. He also hosted a primetime ABC game show, Keep Talking. Griffin frequently chatted with audience members. He broke into broadcasting in 1957 as a summer TV announcer. Marlo Thomas and her husband Phil Donahue in New York, circa 1970 | Source: Getty Images. 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. The theme returned to the show in 2021 at the start of season 39. He attended San Mateo Junior College and then the University of San Francisco. 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. 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. It taped in Los Angeles after initial reports that it would be produced at WMAQ-TV in Chicago. We steal a lot from other shows," Donahue says. 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. Movies. 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. We knew nothing of his relationships because he guarded his privacy fiercely, and we didnt pry. Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. Also, he founded two TV production organizations Merv Griffin Entertainment and Merv Griffin Enterprises. Donahue asked her on the air. And now hes doing it to Griffin withMerv Griffin: a Life in the Closet. Griffin's announcer/sidekick was veteran British character actor Arthur Treacher, who had been his mentor. My wife Julann just came up with the idea one day when we were in a plane bringing us back to New York from Duluth. Griffin was not shy about tackling controversial subjects, especially the Vietnam War. Marlo revealed that even in 2020, she still wasn't sure she believed in marriage. That was Fibber and Mollie McGee's address. A typical example is the cancellation of a Masters and Johnson broadcast in Medford, Ore., because they "tantalized the audience by talking about homosexuality. Mervyn Edward Merv Griffin Jr. was born on July 6, 1925, in San Mateo, California. [2] He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway. Merv was looking at notes for a new game show, and Julann asked if it was one of the knowledge-based games she liked. 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. [12], He became increasingly popular with nightclub audiences, and his fame soared among the general public with his 1950 hit "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts". With resignation in his voice, Donahue will concede that his show is "a platform for pitchmen," one endless commercial. Marlo Thomas was in a long relationship with playwright Herb Gardner, but they did not get married. I will do anything with anybody for a quarter. 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. After three years of marriage, they got married on May 21, 1980. Griffin also hosted a game show Play Your Hunch in 1958 whose producers were Bill Todman and Mark Goodson. On the other hand, Phil had been married before and welcomed five children, making his new wife a stepmother. [20] When they had their first child, Cynthia Leigh Buzzell, on September 11, 1955, Griffin was named her godfather. Margaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas (born November 21, 1937) is an American actress, producer, author, and social activist. 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. He did it for Katharine Hepburn. Born in Kansas City, MO, Menorah Hospital to Helen Hollenbeck Ford and Fred C. Ford. 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. "You're on the cover of 'Publisher's Weekly'," editor-in-chief Michael Korda told talk-show king Phil Donahue. There is a story in Queer in America about a man identified as The Mogul who did just that. [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. ", Questions invariably come with the standard Donahue prefixes: "I don't want to be maudlin about this" or "It's hard to make this point without sounding a little patronizing." He started his professional life by joining the radio as well as by singing in collaboration with a big band. Griffin never acknowledged he was gay, though it became widely known in Hollywood, even as Eva Gabor played his beard. [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. [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. 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. You and the ayatollah are the only two people that would work for.". 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. I like someone to love me," Thomas replied. If youre Griffin, why would you think a judgmental culture would be any more tolerant as you grew into middle and old age? (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. She further elaborated, "I had to meet the right kind of man, and the world had to change a lot, and I had to change a lot." Merv Griffin was born on 6th July 1925 in San Francisco, California, to Mervyn Edward Griffin and Rita Elizabeth Griffin. In 1990, Griffin had an ambitious but unsuccessful attempt at adapting the venerable board game Monopoly into a game show of the same name. "That's not going to happen," he explains. In a December 1977 article, the actress recalled how Phil was a modern man and a single parent when they met. 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. What a powerful message Griffin might have sent had he squired his male companions around town rather than Eva Gabor, his longtime good friend and platonic public pal. In 1954, Griffin appeared in several Cincraft Productions sponsored films including a musical, Milestones of Motoring with Joe E. Brown and Rita Farrell. It was good television. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. 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! He has parlayed their problems into the top spot in the dog-eat-puppy world of syndicated talk shows. And lots about Mervs prolonged sexual tryst with Marlon Brando. So she had to figure out how to be nice and good and realized early on that she shouldn't try to fill a mother-like role because they might resent that. Profits from his highly successful game shows made him one of the world's wealthiest entertainers. In 1965, Griffin launched a syndicated talk show for Group W (Westinghouse Broadcasting) titled The Merv Griffin Show. From that moment, "Donahue" became an audience-participation program. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Also, he achieved the degree Doctor of Laws from the National University of Ireland, Galway, in 2005. 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. Menu. Some guests receive a silent, comforting pat on the hand. "In a network situation," Donahue says, "one guy can end your career while he's shaving." Text. At one of his nightclub performances, Griffin was discovered by Doris Day. "Why rock the boat?" He created another game show Wheel of Fortune which aired from 1975. "When half of America is saying, 'That guest got him,' believe me when I tell you it's fine with me." 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. Merv Griffin Net Worth 2023: Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids, Bio-Wiki. One regular attendee, Lillian Miller, became a fixture on the show throughout its run. Picking up a desk stapler to act as a surrogate microphone, he stands, flexes his shoulders and acts out his "dialogues" with them. [4] When he was a child, Griffin used to play Hangman games with his sister during family road trips. Helen Gene Ford Turner, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother died peacefully at home on February 24, 2023 at the age of 96. But Donahue is top dog becuase he has attracted and maintained an extraordinarily large audience. 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. He resolved to change his appearance, and lost 80 pounds in four months. But it was in 1962 that his career took its most dramatic turn. "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. 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. "I have come to the point where I am at peace with my own imperfection in terms of understanding it, and I am enjoying the business of wondering.". 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. And yet, it is very important for reasons far beyond visibility or mere gossip. The show was a huge success and earned immense popularity. 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." 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. And there was a young James Dean selling his sex for cash. Though dismissed, the lawsuits put Griffin on the spot, and while he never denied being gay, he didnt own it either. He earned a whole heap of publicity b hosting and producing several different television shows. He lived with Roddy McDowall here at the Dakota, where he introduced Eddie Fisher to Elizabeth Taylor. You and Me.She has received three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Peabody Award for her work in television and has been inducted . [17][20] Griffin needed a place to stay and moved-in with Buzzell as his new roommate. 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. Self 5 episodes, 1969-1974 Melba Moore . Being born on 6 July 1925, Merv Griffin was 82 years old at the time of his death. A staff of 15, mostly women, decides what gets on the show. (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. 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. So, is Phil Donahue Everyman? Then again, Merv carved his niche in the entertainment world at a time when being gay wasnt OK, when disclosure was unthinkable and the allegation alone could deep-six ones career. As a regular performer on The Arthur Murray Party (1950), The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar (1957) and others, he was offered the opportunity to host his own television series, Play Your Hunch (1958). "Milestones of Motoring (1954)" sponsored by Standard Oil of Ohio, Hagley Library Digital Archive. American Talk Show Host Merv Griffin was born Mervyn . Then he continued his higher education at the University of San Francisco. From December 1975 to January 1976, it was expanded to an hour, in response to the successful 60-minute version of The Price Is Right on CBS. Griffin, as a radio announcer, played an unacknowledged part in the 1953 science/horror short story classic The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. He's not afraid to sound stupid, either. On her YouTube channel in 2012, Phil's wife confessed how no one dreamt of being a stepmother. [18][19], That summer, Griffin became acquainted with music publisher Loring Buzzell.