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Merv Griffin
ACTOR

Merv Griffin

Known for The Daily Show · Saturday Night Live · The Ellen DeGeneres Show

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…

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Jul 6, 1925
Died
Aug 12, 2007
Birthplace
San Mateo, California, USA
Known For
Acting

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.

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Known For

TVThe Daily Show
The Daily ShowSelf · 1996
★ 6.4
TVSaturday Night Live
Saturday Night LiveSelf (uncredited) · 1975
★ 6.9
TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSelf · 2003
★ 5.6
TVLate Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David LettermanSelf (voice) (uncredited) · 1993
★ 6.5
TVJeopardy!
Jeopardy!Executive Producer · 1984
★ 6.9
TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1 eps · 1992
★ 5.3
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 1962
★ 7.6
TVWheel of Fortune
Wheel of FortuneProducer · 1983
★ 6.9

Filmography

Movies

Cattle TownGovernor's secretary
1952
So This Is LoveBuddy Nash
1953
Three Sailors and a GirlSailor (uncredited)
1953
Trouble Along the WayFootball Broadcaster (voice)
1953
Phantom of the Rue MorgueGeorges Brevert
1954
The Boy from OklahomaSteve
1954
Inside Daisy CloverRadio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
1966
Will the Real Norman Mailer Please Stand Up?Self
1968
Hello Down ThereHimself
1969
Two-Minute WarningMerv Griffin - National Anthem Singer
1976
The Seduction of Joe TynanHimself
1979
One Trick PonyAcappella Singer
1980
Slapstick of Another KindAnchorman
1982
The Funny FarmThe Voice Of... (Voice)
1983
The Man with Two BrainsThe Elevator Killer
1983
The Lonely GuyHimself
1984
AS
All Star Party for Clint EastwoodSelf
1986
Rickles... On the LooseSelf
1986
Murder at the Cannes Film FestivalSelf
2000
ShadeProducer
2003
A1
An-THOR-Logy 1976-1985Himself
2005
TT
Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack SheldonHimself
2008
Richard Pryor: Omit the LogicSelf (archive footage)
2013
Mystical Traveler: The Life and Times of Dr. John-RogerSelf (archive footage)
2014
John Travolta, le miraculé d'HollywoodSelf - TV Host (archive footage)
2017
The Fabulous Allan CarrSelf (archive footage)
2017
Game ChangersSelf (archive footage)
2018
WhitneySelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
2018
I Am Richard PryorSelf - TV Host (archive footage)
2019
My Darling VivianSelf (archive footage)
2020
My Guest is Orson Welles
2021
The Real Charlie ChaplinSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021
Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate ConversationSelf - TV Host (archive footage)
2021
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with SomebodySelf (archive footage)
2022
DEVOSelf (archive footage)
2024

Television

The Emmy AwardsSelf · 1 eps
1949
Tonight Starring Jack PaarSelf - Guest Host · 5 eps
1957
Tonight Starring Jack PaarSelf · 2 eps
1957
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf - Host · 1082 eps
1962
The Merv Griffin ShowWriter
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 1 eps
1962
Jeopardy!Creator
1964
RF
Reach for the StarsCreator
1967
The Carol Burnett ShowSelf · 1 eps
1967
MG
Memory GameCreator
1971
The Pet SetSelf · 1 eps
1971
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour2 eps
1971
Sanford and Son1 eps
1972
Dinah!Self · 1 eps
1974
WO
Wheel of Fortune (Daytime)Creator
1974
Saturday Night LiveSelf (uncredited) · 1 eps
1975
Mary Hartman, Mary HartmanSelf · 1 eps
1976
CBS News Sunday MorningSelf · 1 eps
1979
DF
Dance FeverCreator
1979
Presenting Susan Anton1 eps
1979
WO
Wheel of FortuneCreator
1981
Newhart1 eps
1982
Wheel of FortuneProducer
1983
Wheel of FortuneCreator
1983
Jeopardy!Executive Producer
1984
Jeopardy!Creator
1984
Alice in WonderlandConductor · 1 eps
1985
The Golden GirlsMerv Griffin · 1 eps
1985
LR
La Roue de la fortuneCreator
1987
WO
Wheel of FortuneCreator
1988
Wheel of FortuneCreator
1988
MonopolyProducer
1990
MonopolyCreator
1990
Super Jeopardy!Producer
1990
Super Jeopardy!Creator
1990
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1 eps
1992
Late Show with David LettermanSelf (voice) (uncredited) · 1 eps
1993
Hope and GloriaMerv Griffin · 1 eps
1995
E! True Hollywood Story1 eps
1996
The Daily ShowSelf · 2 eps
1996
HerculesMerv Griffin (voice) · 2 eps
1998
R&
Rock & Roll Jeopardy!Creator
1998
DF
Dance FeverCreator
2003
Roda a RodaCreator
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSelf · 2 eps
2003
Alf's Hit Talk Show1 eps
2004
TT
The Tony Danza ShowSelf · 1 eps
2004
TL
TV Land Moguls6 eps
2004
Fat ActressMerv Griffin · 1 eps
2005
TA
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart1 eps
2005
The Megan Mullally ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2006
MG
Merv Griffin's CrosswordsCreator
2007
MD
Million Dollar Wheel of FortuneCreator
2008
LykkehjuletCreator
2020
Jeopardy! MastersCreator
2023
Pretty Baby: Brooke ShieldsSelf (archive footage) · 2 eps
2023
Pop Culture Jeopardy!Original Series Creator
2024
ESPN Jeopardy!Creator
2026
Pop Culture Jeopardy!Original Series Creator
2026
Koło FortunyCreator
PC
Pole ChudesCreator
WO
Wheel of FortuneCreator
WO
Wheel of FortuneCreator

Photos

Merv Griffin photo
Merv Griffin photo
Merv Griffin photo
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