Merv Griffin passed away at age 82 by Ana Maria Ciobanu

Merv Griffin passed away at 82 years old after losing a hard fight to prostate cancer, according to a statement from his family released by Marcia Newberger, spokeswoman for The Griffin Group/Merv Griffin Entertainment. Merv Griffin began his career as a $100-a-week radio singer in San Francisco. He created the "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" game shows we all loved and watched and some of us even played. He was the featured vocalist in Freddy Martin's band. He had a brief film career and a successful TV career as host of "The Merv Griffin Show," which aired for more than 20 years. His financial success came from investing and producing "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune." His creations became quickly the hottest games on TV. Merv Griffin sold the rights for them to the Columbia Pictures Television Unit for $250 million, keeping a share of the profits. He was too much of an artist and creative person so after playing around with the sale money and spreading it in treasury bonds, stocks and other investments he got bored. His TV show inspired hundreds of others and hosted great personalities. Whitney Houston made her début at the Merv Griffin Show; Olivia Newton John launched her first record; everyone who was someone appeared in Merv Griffin's TV show. We will all miss this wonderful person who made TV history and introduced us to another gender of entertainment. Merv Griffin will definitely not be forgotten. May he rest in peace!

by Ana Maria Ciobanu for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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