Remembering Merv Griffin: 1925-2007

A consummate entertainer, Merv Griffin made his bones in the era of radio and big band, and later parlayed his talk-show fame and success producing game shows such as Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune into a multimillion-dollar empire. Griffin, who died of prostate cancer yesterday at age 82, remained active in showbiz until the very end. His new half-hour syndicated game show Merv Griffin Crosswords premieres on September 10th. On his website, Griffin described himself as one of the 60 million crossword fanatics. "I do four of them each morning before starting my day," he said. "By combining the basics of the puzzles with a game show format, I think we've got something that will be fun for everyone." This October will also see the return of his clairvoyant reality show Lisa Williams: Life Among The Dead, which Lifetime picked up for a second season. Some facts about an amazing life and career from Wikipedia:

Griffin started as a singer on radio at age 19, appearing on "San Francisco Sketchbook," a nationally syndicated program based at KFRC. Griffin was slightly overweight as a teenager, which disappointed his radio fans seeing him for the first time to the point of laughter. Embarrassed by this rude reaction, Griffin resolved to lose weight and change his image. He was true to his word and matured into a handsome big-band vocalist. Freddy Martin was a fan of the radio show and asked Griffin to tour with his orchestra, which he did for four years.

Griffin scored a number-one record hit with "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts", which sold over three million copies. During one of his nightclub performances, he was discovered by Doris Day, who arranged for a screen test at Warner Bros. Studios. His open-mouthed kiss with Kathryn Grayson in his debut film, So This Is Love (1953), was the first such kiss in a Hollywood film since the introduction of the Production Code in 1934.

One of Merv's better-known musical compositions would be the theme song for "Jeopardy".

Upon his retirement, he sold his production company, Merv Griffin Enterprises, to Columbia Pictures Television unit for $250 million, which was the largest acquisition of an entertainment company owned by a single individual at that time. Following the sale, Forbes named him the richest Hollywood performer in history. He retained the title of executive producer of both shows until his death.

Griffin ventured into real estate, purchasing the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. He also purchased Resorts Hotel and Casino, formerly Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel in Atlantic City from Donald Trump in 1988. An active desert resident, he has been a supporter of the La Quinta Arts Festival and the owner of the Merv Griffin Givenchy Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, now The Parker. He owned a ranch near La Quinta, California where he raised thoroughbred racehorses, as well as St. Clerans Manor, a boutique hotel, set in an 18th century estate once owned by director John Huston, near Craughwell, County Galway Galway, Ireland. In the 1980s, Griffin purchased Paradise Island in the Bahamas for $400 million from Donald Trump, but he later sold it for just $125 million.

Photos: (L) Merv Griffin for the production of the CBS television network series "Summertime, U.S.A." on April 29, 1954. CBS/Landov (R) Former first lady Nancy Reagan and entertainer and entrepreneur Merv Griffin arrive at the 2007 Ronald Reagan Freedom Award gala dinner honoring former President George H. W. Bush in Beverly Hills, California on February 6, 2007. UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen/Landov