Famed game show host Wink Martindale, who presided over TV hits such as Tic-Tac-Dough, High Rollers and Gambit, died at 91 on Tuesday at his Rancho Mirage, California home.
Martindale was ‘surrounded by family and his beloved wife of 49 years, Sandra Martindale,’ his spokesperson said, according to Deadline. The cause of death has not been revealed at this time.
Martindale’s legendary career spanned more than seven decades, as he began working with a stint in radio in his Jackson, Tennessee hometown.
His professional contributions also earned him a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2006 and a Beale Street Note in Memphis in 2024.
Martindale, whose full name was Winston Conrad ‘Wink’ Martindale, had previously worked as a disk jockey in Memphis.
The TV personality’s family said he was involved in the first time Elvis Presley’s music was featured on the radio while working at the WHBQ station, Deadline reported.
Famed game show host Wink Martindale, who presided over TV hits such as Tic-Tac-Dough, High Rollers and Gambit, died at 91 on Tuesday at his Rancho Mirage, California home; Pictured 2019
The affable TV star appeared on Tic-Tac-Dough from 1978–1985; pictured in 1972
‘Wink was the last living witness to “Presleymania” and the birth of Rock & Roll,’ a press release said.
‘He was so nervous about his record being played on the air that he’d gone to the theater,’ Martindale remembered about Presley’s visit during a Television Academy Foundation interview in 2018.
‘They found him sitting there by himself and brought him to the station. Dewey put him in front of a microphone and just started talking to him. So I met Elvis that night. He became my friend and he continued to be my friend until the day he died.’
After hosting mornings at KHJ in Los Angeles, Martindale worked at KRLA (1959), KFWB (1962), KGIL-AM (1968-1971), KKGO-FM/KJQI and KMPC (Gene Autry’s station) during 1971-1979 and 1983-1987, KABC (1989), and finally KJQI (1993-1994).
Martindale’s early TV roles included hosting Mars Patrol and Teenage Dance Party, which featured Elvis on June 16, 1956.
Martindale’s game show career began with NBC’s What’s This Song? (1964-1965) and included hosting popular programs like Gambit, Tic-Tac-Dough, and Trivial Pursuit.
Besides hosting Headline Chasers, Martindale was also a producer for the show.
‘I like people, and you get to meet so many different people in the world of game shows,’ he said in an interview with Television Academy Foundation.
‘I enjoy finding out what makes people tick. As you play a game, you see why one person is more successful than another. But I just love working with people, and I love talking. I could sit here and talk all day.’
Besides his successful TV career, Martindale was a recording artist, whose 1959 spoken-word hit ‘Deck of Cards’ charted in the US (No. 7) and UK (No. 5).
Martindale was ‘surrounded by family and his beloved wife of 49 years, Sandra Martindale,’ his spokesperson said, according to Deadline; Wink and Sandy pictured in 2012
His career spanned more than seven decades, as he began working with a stint in radio in his Jackson, Tennessee hometown; Pictured 2006
Martindale’s game show career began with NBC’s What’s This Song? (1964-1965) and included hosting popular programs like Gambit, Tic-Tac-Dough, and Trivial Pursuit
‘I like people, and you get to meet so many different people in the world of game shows. I enjoy finding out what makes people tick,’ he previously said in an interview with Television Academy Foundation; pictured in 1997
His legendary career also earned him a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2006 (pictured) and a Beale Street Note in Memphis in 2024
Martindale is survived by his wife Sandra, sister Geraldine, daughters Lisa, Lyn, and Laura, as well as ‘a large extended family’; he and Sandy pictured in 2020
More recently, he appeared on shows like The Bold and the Beautiful, Most Outrageous Game Show Moments, and The Chase.
His alma mater, the University of Memphis, honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Award, and he was among the first inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame.
Following news of his passing, Ana Martinez, Hollywood Walk of Fame Producer and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Media Relations, wrote on X: ‘Memorial flowers for Walk of Famer Wink Martindale will be placed on his star today at 5 pm at 7018 Hollywood Blvd.’
‘The Hollywood community extends its sympathy to the Martindale family. Flowers are placed by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce & sponsored by Hollywood Historic Trust.’
Wink married his second wife, Sandy, in 1975. He was previously married to Madelyn Leech from 1954 until their divorce in 1972. They had four children together.
Throughout his career, Martindale supported many charities and created annual telethons for Cerebral Palsy and St. Jude Children’s Hospital, among others.
Martindale is survived by his wife Sandra, sister Geraldine, daughters Lisa, Lyn, and Laura, as well as ‘a large extended family full of grandchildren and great grandchildren, his honorary son Eric and his beloved Chihuahua Dude.’
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