Merv Griffin

Merv Griffin (born July 6, 1925, in San Mateo, California; died August 12, 2007) is best known as a TV talkshow host (which earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 1971) and creator of such long-running gameshows as Jeopardy! (starting in 1964) and Wheel of Fortune (1975). He hosted The Merv Griffin Show for NBC 1962-63, and in syndication 1965-86. Starting in trhe 1980s, he expanded into real estate and business ventures, including   1987-2003 ownership of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, home of the Golden Globes since the 1960s.