Spoiler : Griffin, Merv (birth name was Mervyn Edward Griffin) Born in San Mateo, California 7/6/1925. Married to radio comedienne Julann Wright (1956-1973). Studied music at the San Mateo Junior College and the University of San Francisco. Host of The Merv Griffin Show on KFRC-San Francisco (1945-1948). Vocalist with The Freddy Martin Orchestra (1948-1952). Signed a contract with Warner Brothers Pictures, on screen in So This Is Love and The Boy From Oklahoma (1952-1954).

Spoiler : Vocalist on television shows including The Freddy Martin Show for NBC (1951); Summer Holiday on CBS (1954); The Morning Show on CBS-TV (1955). Co-host of Song Snapshots on a Summer Holiday on CBS-TV (1954). Host of television programs including Look Up and Live on CBS (1955); Keep Talking on ABC (1959-1960); Saturday Prom on NBC (1960-61); Play Your Hunch on NBC (1960-1962); Talent Scouts for CBS (1963); Word for Word on NBC (1963-1964); The Merv Griffin Show on CBS (1969-1972); daytime syndicated series, The Merv Griffin Show (1972-1986). Guest host for The Tonight Show on NBC-TV (1962); The Hippodrome on CBS-TV (1966). Creator/producer of syndicated television game shows including, The Wheel Of Fortune (1983-); Jeopardy (1974-). Executive producer of Monopoly on ABC-TV (1990). Emmy Awards for writing The Merv Griffin Show in 1974, 1982, 1984 for hosting The Merv Griffin Show.