Person
Merv Griffin
Acting · 1925–2007 · San Mateo, California, USA
Biography
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American television host, singer, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. During the 1960s, Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show, and created the game shows Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Click, and Merv Griffin's Crosswords. He is considered an entertainment business magnate.
Known for
Jeopardy!
Executive Producer
The Daily Show
Self
Late Show with David Letterman
Self (voice) (uncredited)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
CBS News Sunday Morning
Self
Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
Wheel of Fortune
Producer
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
The Merv Griffin Show
Self - Host
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
Filmography
- 2026ESPN Jeopardy!Creator
- 2026Pop Culture Jeopardy!Original Series Creator
- 2024Pop Culture Jeopardy!Original Series Creator
- 2024DEVOSelf (archive footage)
- 2023Jeopardy! MastersCreator
- 2023Pretty Baby: Brooke ShieldsSelf (archive footage)
- 2022Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with SomebodySelf (archive footage)
- 2021My Guest is Orson Welles
- 2021The Real Charlie ChaplinSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2021Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate ConversationSelf - TV Host (archive footage)
- 2020My Darling VivianSelf (archive footage)
- 2020LykkehjuletCreator
- 2019I Am Richard PryorSelf - TV Host (archive footage)
- 2018WhitneySelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2018Game ChangersSelf (archive footage)
- 2017The Fabulous Allan CarrSelf (archive)
- 2017John Travolta, le miraculé d'HollywoodSelf - TV Host (archive footage)
- 2014Mystical Traveler: The Life and Times of Dr. John-RogerSelf (archive footage)
- 2013Richard Pryor: Omit the LogicSelf (archive footage)
- 2008Million Dollar Wheel of FortuneCreator
- 2008Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack SheldonHimself
- 2007Merv Griffin's CrosswordsCreator
- 2006The Megan Mullally ShowSelf - Guest
- 2005The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
- 2005Fat ActressMerv Griffin
- 2005An-THOR-Logy 1976-1985Himself
- 2004The Tony Danza ShowSelf
- 2004Alf's Hit Talk Show
- 2004TV Land Moguls
- 2003Roda a RodaCreator
- 2003The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSelf
- 2003Dance FeverCreator
- 2003ShadeProducer
- 2000Murder at the Cannes Film FestivalSelf
- 1998HerculesMerv Griffin (voice)
- 1998Rock & Roll Jeopardy!Creator
- 1996E! True Hollywood Story
- 1996The Daily ShowSelf
- 1995Hope and GloriaMerv Griffin
- 1993Late Show with David LettermanSelf (voice) (uncredited)
- 1992The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- 1990Super Jeopardy!Producer
- 1990MonopolyProducer
- 1988Wheel of FortuneCreator
- 1988Wheel of FortuneCreator
- 1987La Roue de la fortuneCreator
- 1986All Star Party for Clint EastwoodSelf
- 1986Rickles... On the LooseSelf
- 1985Alice in WonderlandConductor
- 1985The Golden GirlsMerv Griffin
- 1984Jeopardy!Executive Producer
- 1984The Lonely GuyHimself
- 1983Wheel of FortuneProducer
- 1983The Man with Two BrainsThe Elevator Killer
- 1983The Funny FarmThe Voice Of... (Voice)
- 1982Slapstick of Another KindAnchorman
- 1982Newhart
- 1981Wheel of FortuneCreator
- 1980One Trick PonyAcappella Singer
- 1979The Seduction of Joe TynanHimself
- 1979Dance FeverCreator
- 1979Presenting Susan Anton
- 1979CBS News Sunday MorningSelf
- 1976Two-Minute WarningMerv Griffin - National Anthem Singer
- 1976Mary Hartman, Mary HartmanSelf
- 1975Saturday Night LiveSelf (uncredited)
- 1974Dinah!Self
- 1974Wheel of Fortune (Daytime)Creator
- 1972Sanford and Son
- 1971The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
- 1971Memory GameCreator
- 1971The Pet SetSelf
- 1969Hello Down ThereHimself
- 1968Will the Real Norman Mailer Please Stand Up?Self
- 1967The Carol Burnett ShowSelf
- 1967Reach for the StarsCreator
- 1966Inside Daisy CloverRadio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
- 1964Jeopardy!Creator
- 1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf - Host
- 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
- 1957Tonight Starring Jack PaarSelf - Guest Host
- 1954Phantom of the Rue MorgueGeorges Brevert
- 1954The Boy from OklahomaSteve
- 1953Three Sailors and a GirlSailor (uncredited)
- 1953So This Is LoveBuddy Nash
- 1953Trouble Along the WayFootball Broadcaster (voice)
- 1952Cattle TownGovernor's secretary
- 1949The Emmy AwardsSelf
- —Koło FortunyCreator
- —Wheel of FortuneCreator
- —Pole ChudesCreator
- —Wheel of FortuneCreator
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