Merv "Buddy" Griffin Dies at 82

Merv Griffin, a big-band singer who became one of television's longest-running talk-show hosts and creator of some of the most popular game shows before becoming a major figure in the hotel and gambling businesses, died in Los Angeles at age 82.

Griffin made his transition yesterday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The cause of his death was from a long time battle with prostate cancer, which he was diagnosed with 10 years ago.

Mr. Griffin, as a singer with the Freddy Martin band, had a hit in 1950 with the recording "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts," but traded in singing for acting in movies, served as a game-show host and filled in for Jack Paar on late-night television. Then, in 1962, NBC gave him his own daytime show, "The Merv Griffin Show." The show was canceled in less than a year.

Mr. Griffin secured an agreement with NBC to allow him to set up a production company. Subsequently, he became the brains behind the popular game show Jeopardy, which ran for 11 years, then was revived nearly a decade later. Griffin also created "Wheel of Fortune," which has been running since 1975.

Mr. Griffin was born on July 6, 1925, the son of Mervyn Edward Griffin Sr., a successful stockbroker and the former Rita Robinson.

"It's hard to focus on Grffin's many accomplishments and contributions to TV without him being here," said game show host Pat Sajak.