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Merv Griffin Net Worth
Merv Griffin Net Worth 2023: Wiki Biography, Married, Family, Measurements, Height, Salary, Relationships
Wiki Biography
Mervyn Edward Griffin, Jr.,was born on July 6, 1925, in San Mateo, California USA, and died on 12 August 2007. He was a famous actor and singer, best known for working on such shows as “The Merv Griffin Show”, “Ruckus”, “Wheel of Fortune”, “Jeopardy!” among others. In addition to this, Griffin also had his own companies, called “Merv Griffin Entertainment” and “Merv Griffin Enterprises”. During his career, Merv was nominated for and won such awards as Young Artist Award, Golden Globe Award, Daytime Emmy Award and others. What is more, in 2008 he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame”. It is clear that Merv was one of the most influential personalities in the television industry.
So how rich was Merv Griffin? It is estimated that Merv’s net worth was over $1 billion. The main source of this sum of money was Merv’s career as a television personality, but his appearances in movies and television series added significantly to Griffin’s wealth. In addition to this, Merv was also known for his activities as a musician, which contributed to his net worth.
Merv Griffin Net Worth $1 Billion
When Merv was still a small boy he started singing in the local church’s choir. He studied at the San Mateo High School and later continued at the San Mateo Junior College and the University of San Francisco. When Merv was 19 years old he started singing on the radio show, “San Francisco Sketchbook”. Then in 1945 Merv created his own record label, called “Panda Records”. In 1958 Griffin received an invitation to become the host of the show, called “Play Your Hunch”. After working on this show he received suggestion from other shows as well. In 1965 he created his own show, called “The Merv Griffin Show”, which added a lot to his popularity and net worth. Over the following years, other shows created by him include “Jeopardy!”, “Wheel of Fortune” and “Ruckus”. In 2001 Griffin went back to music, and released the album, called “It’s Like a Dream” which had a significant impact on the growth of Griffin’s net worth.
In addition to his career as an actor and singer, Griffin was also involved into various business affairs. He mainly focused on buying and selling real estate. As he was quite good at this, it also made his net worth grow. Sadly, Merv died in 2007 because of a prostate cancer. Overall, Griffin had worked on more than 50 projects during his career and now is considered to be one of the most successful television personalities of all time.
If to talk about Merv’s personal life, it can be said that in 1958 he married Julann Wright; one year later their son was born, but in 1976 Merv and Julann decided to divorce. All in all, Merv was a very talented and charismatic personality. He had a huge influence on the television and movie industries. That is why his work and talent is still acclaimed and respected among others. There is no doubt that many contemporary actors and television personalities look up to Merv’s personality and his career. Hopefully, he will be remembered for a very long time in the future.
| Full Name | Merv Griffin |
| Net Worth | $1 billion |
| Date Of Birth | July 6, 1925 |
| Died | August 12, 2007, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Height | 1.75 m |
| Profession | Screenwriter, Film Score Composer, Television producer, Talk show host, Actor, Business magnate, Media proprietor, Singer, Entertainer |
| Education | San Mateo High School |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Julann Wright |
| Children | Tony Griffin |
| Parents | Rita Elizabeth Griffin, Mervyn Edward Griffin, Sr. |
| IMDB | www.imdb.com/name/nm0341311 |
| Awards | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show, Academy of Country Music Awards Jim Reeves International Award, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Writing for a Talk, Service or Variety Program, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding host/hostess in a variety series |
| Nominations | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host, Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance - Variety Or Music Program, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Talk, Service or Variety Series |
| Movies | Alice in Wonderland, Slapstick of Another Kind, The Boy from Oklahoma, Phantom of the Rue Morgue, So This Is Love |
| TV Shows | The Merv Griffin Show, Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Play Your Hunch, Dance Fever, Merv Griffin's Crosswords, Rock & Roll Jeopardy!, Monopoly, Wheel 2000, Click, Pole Chudes, La Roue de la fortune, Kolo Fortuny, La ruleta de la fortuna, Lykkehjulet, Keep Talking, Reach for the Stars, Memory Game, Ruc... |
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | I worked for Mark Goodson early in my career and he was like the Godfather of game shows. I asked him if it was a business worth getting into. He responded, "If you have an original idea, there's no format in television that costs less and brings in more profit." After I had some success, he reached out and congratulated me on "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!", saying that I took his advice to heart. He was a visionary and a gentleman, a rare find in showbiz. |
| 2 | I tell everybody that I'm a quatre-sexual: I will do anything with anybody for a quarter. - when asked if he was gay |
| 3 | You know I really never get down. My philosophy is that you have to constantly be turning the page, which prevents me from getting caught up in any negativity. It's all about change for me. I just keep moving and enjoy the ride. |
| 4 | If the host is sitting there thinking about his next joke, he isn't listening. |
| 5 | (on what he would like his headstone to read) Stay tuned. |
| 6 | I've been in the public eye for more than fifty years as Merv Griffin, not as somebody else's creation. I've never pretended to be someone I wasn't. If there was anything really important that people didn't know about me by now, then I would have to be world's greatest actor. Forget Brando, forget Hoffman, forget DeNiro... I would have to be the best. |
| 7 | I worked for Mark Goodson early in my career and he was like the Godfather of game shows. I asked him if it was a business worth getting into. He responded, "If you have an original idea, there's no format in television that costs less and brings in more profit." After I had some success, he reached out and congratulated me on "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!", saying that I took his advice to heart. He was a visionary and a gentleman, a rare find in showbiz. |
| 8 | I tell everybody that I'm a quatre-sexual: I will do anything with anybody for a quarter. - when asked if he was gay |
| 9 | You know I really never get down. My philosophy is that you have to constantly be turning the page, which prevents me from getting caught up in any negativity. It's all about change for me. I just keep moving and enjoy the ride. |
| 10 | If the host is sitting there thinking about his next joke, he isn't listening. |
| 11 | (on what he would like his headstone to read) Stay tuned. |
| 12 | I've been in the public eye for more than fifty years as Merv Griffin, not as somebody else's creation. I've never pretended to be someone I wasn't. If there was anything really important that people didn't know about me by now, then I would have to be world's greatest actor. Forget Brando, forget Hoffman, forget DeNiro... I would have to be the best. |
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Did the actual voice recording for "Once Upon A Time" (Prince Phillip) in Walt Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" (1959). |
| 2 | He was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars on October 15, 1998. |
| 3 | Mentor of Pat Sajak and Ryan Seacrest. |
| 4 | He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1541 Vine Street in Hollywood Boulevard on October 15, 1974. |
| 5 | Actor Robert Loggia, with whom he appeared in the I Married a Princess (2005) episode "Kids Take Over", was his closest friend. |
| 6 | His Griffin Group included film and television production; a luxury home development in La Quinta; closed-circuit coverage of horse racing across the county; a real estate brokerage specializing in high-end residential properties; and a stable of thoroughbreds that included Stevie Wonderboy, the 2005 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner at Belmont Park. |
| 7 | Over the years, he bought and sold more than 20 hotels, gaming resorts and riverboats, including Resorts International in Atlantic City and the Bahamas. |
| 8 | Especially close to Nancy Reagan and was a constant companion during President Reagan's battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was also there for her after the President's death. |
| 9 | Arnold Schwarzenegger made his talk show debut in the United States on Merv's talk show in 1974. |
| 10 | Received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2005, and a similar award from the Museum of Television and Radio in New York. |
| 11 | Not content with catering merely to the celebrity publicity mongers on his self-titled talk show, his unusually wide spectrum of guests ranged from superstars (Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Orson Welles Woody Allen and Richard Pryor) to the more controversial (Abbie Hoffman, Truman Capote, Gypsy Rose Lee and transsexual Christine Jorgensen), to the political mighty (Richard Nixon, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King). |
| 12 | KFRC billed him as "America's New Romantic Singing Star" in his early radio years. But at 5' 9" and 240 pounds, his romantic image on radio certainly did not fit his true look. After a female fan from Fresno dropped by the station to meet him in person and burst into laughter upon seeing him, Griffin went on a crash diet and dropped 80 pounds. Griffin would fight weight problems all his life. He admitted that he was a life-time smoker, ate whatever he wanted and hated to exercise. |
| 13 | Declared 4F after failing several military physical exams during which a slight heart murmur was detected, the then-overweight Griffin took a job in the supply depot of a San Francisco shipyard to contribute to the World War II effort. |
| 14 | Born in San Mateo, California, he took to the piano at age 4 and received lessons at a music conservatory in nearby San Francisco. In 1945, he heard about an audition for a piano player at KFRC radio but found out that they needed a singer instead and applied for that job. He got it and within a few days was hosting his own 15-minute radio show five days a week. |
| 15 | Although the divorced father of one son, Tony, and a constant companion to actress Eva Gabor over the years, it was generally known in the Hollywood circle that Griffin was gay. In 1991, the 65-year-old Griffin faced a multimillion-dollar palimony suit from former Griffin bodyguard and horse trainer Brent Plott, a 37-year-old who maintained he was Griffin's business consultant and lover and was entitled to a portion of Griffin's amassed fortune. That same year, Deney Terrio, host of "Dance Fever", filed an $11.3 sexual harassment lawsuit against Griffin. Both cases were thrown out. |
| 16 | Best friends with Robert Loggia. |
| 17 | Father of Tony Griffin. |
| 18 | His colt Stevie Wonderboy, named after Stevie Wonder, won the 2005 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. |
| 19 | In the Seinfeld (1989) episode Seinfeld: The Merv Griffin Show (1997), Kramer rescues Griffin's discarded set from a dumpster, and stages his own talk show in his apartment. |
| 20 | Longtime friends with Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Jane Wyman, Eva Gabor and Zsa Zsa Gabor. |
| 21 | (July 18, 2007) Hospitalized for a recurrence of his prostate cancer. |
| 22 | Wrote the 30-second piece of music heard during the "Final Jeopardy" category. |
| 23 | Hit #101 on the Billboard 'Bubbling Under the Hot 100' Chart in 1961 with "Banned in Boston" (Carlton 540). |
| 24 | Member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. |
| 25 | Did the actual voice recording for "Once Upon A Time" (Prince Phillip) in Walt Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" (1959). |
| 26 | He was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars on October 15, 1998. |
| 27 | Mentor of Pat Sajak and Ryan Seacrest. |
| 28 | He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1541 Vine Street in Hollywood Boulevard on October 15, 1974. |
| 29 | Actor Robert Loggia, with whom he appeared in the I Married a Princess (2005) episode "Kids Take Over", was his closest friend. |
| 30 | His Griffin Group included film and television production; a luxury home development in La Quinta; closed-circuit coverage of horse racing across the county; a real estate brokerage specializing in high-end residential properties; and a stable of thoroughbreds that included Stevie Wonderboy, the 2005 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner at Belmont Park. |
| 31 | Over the years, he bought and sold more than 20 hotels, gaming resorts and riverboats, including Resorts International in Atlantic City and the Bahamas. |
| 32 | Especially close to Nancy Reagan and was a constant companion during President Reagan's battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was also there for her after the President's death. |
| 33 | Arnold Schwarzenegger made his talk show debut in the United States on Merv's talk show in 1974. |
| 34 | Received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2005, and a similar award from the Museum of Television and Radio in New York. |
| 35 | Not content with catering merely to the celebrity publicity mongers on his self-titled talk show, his unusually wide spectrum of guests ranged from superstars (Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Orson Welles Woody Allen and Richard Pryor) to the more controversial (Abbie Hoffman, Truman Capote, Gypsy Rose Lee and transsexual Christine Jorgensen), to the political mighty (Richard Nixon, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King). |
| 36 | KFRC billed him as "America's New Romantic Singing Star" in his early radio years. But at 5' 9" and 240 pounds, his romantic image on radio certainly did not fit his true look. After a female fan from Fresno dropped by the station to meet him in person and burst into laughter upon seeing him, Griffin went on a crash diet and dropped 80 pounds. Griffin would fight weight problems all his life. He admitted that he was a life-time smoker, ate whatever he wanted and hated to exercise. |
| 37 | Declared 4F after failing several military physical exams during which a slight heart murmur was detected, the then-overweight Griffin took a job in the supply depot of a San Francisco shipyard to contribute to the World War II effort. |
| 38 | Born in San Mateo, California, he took to the piano at age 4 and received lessons at a music conservatory in nearby San Francisco. In 1945, he heard about an audition for a piano player at KFRC radio but found out that they needed a singer instead and applied for that job. He got it and within a few days was hosting his own 15-minute radio show five days a week. |
| 39 | Although the divorced father of one son, Tony, and a constant companion to actress Eva Gabor over the years, it was generally known in the Hollywood circle that Griffin was gay. In 1991, the 65-year-old Griffin faced a multimillion-dollar palimony suit from former Griffin bodyguard and horse trainer Brent Plott, a 37-year-old who maintained he was Griffin's business consultant and lover and was entitled to a portion of Griffin's amassed fortune. That same year, Deney Terrio, host of "Dance Fever", filed an $11.3 sexual harassment lawsuit against Griffin. Both cases were thrown out. |
| 40 | Best friends with Robert Loggia. |
| 41 | Father of Tony Griffin. |
| 42 | His colt Stevie Wonderboy, named after Stevie Wonder, won the 2005 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. |
| 43 | In the Seinfeld (1989) episode Seinfeld: The Merv Griffin Show (1997), Kramer rescues Griffin's discarded set from a dumpster, and stages his own talk show in his apartment. |
| 44 | Longtime friends with Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Jane Wyman, Eva Gabor and Zsa Zsa Gabor. |
| 45 | (July 18, 2007) Hospitalized for a recurrence of his prostate cancer. |
| 46 | Wrote the 30-second piece of music heard during the "Final Jeopardy" category. |
| 47 | Hit #101 on the Billboard 'Bubbling Under the Hot 100' Chart in 1961 with "Banned in Boston" (Carlton 540). |
| 48 | Member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosswords | 2007 | TV Series producer | |
| Lisa Williams: Life Among the Dead | 2006 | TV Series executive producer | |
| The Merv Griffin Show: 40 of the Most Interesting People of Our Time | 2006 | Video executive producer | |
| Shade | 2003 | executive producer | |
| Dance Fever | 2003 | TV Series executive producer | |
| Gilda Radner: It's Always Something | 2002 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Inside the Osmonds | 2001 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Murder at the Cannes Film Festival | 2000 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Jeopardy! | 1984-2000 | TV Series executive producer - 3,610 episodes | |
| Wheel of Fortune | 1983-2000 | TV Series executive producer - 3,310 episodes | |
| The Christmas List | 1997 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Click | 1997/II | TV Series executive producer | |
| Merv Griffin's New Year's Eve Special | 1991 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Wheel of Fortune | 1975-1991 | TV Series executive producer - 86 episodes | |
| Monopoly | 1990 | TV Series executive producer | |
| Cocoanut Ballroom | 1986 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Headline Chasers | 1985 | TV Series producer - 1985 | |
| Dance Fever | 1979 | TV Series executive producer | |
| Jeopardy! | 1964 | TV Series executive producer | |
| The Merv Griffin Show | 1962 | TV Series executive producer | |
| Saturday Prom | 1960 | TV Series short producer |
Writer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeopardy! | TV Series creator - 967 episodes, 1984 - 2016 created by - 44 episodes, 2016 | ||
| Wheel of Fortune | TV Series 1 episode, 2016 creator - 822 episodes, 2009 - 2016 | ||
| Crosswords | 2007-2008 | TV Series creator - 228 episodes | |
| Jeopardy! | 1995 | Video Game based on a format by | |
| Monopoly | 1990 | TV Series creator | |
| Super Jeopardy! | 1990 | TV Series creator | |
| The Merv Griffin Show | 1972-1985 | TV Series 7 episodes | |
| Dance Fever | 1979 | TV Series creator | |
| The All New Jeopardy! | 1978 | TV Series creator | |
| Wheel of Fortune | 1975 | TV Series creator | |
| Merv Griffin and the Christmas Kids | 1973 | TV Movie | |
| Jeopardy! | 1964 | TV Series creator |
Music Department
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosswords | 2007-2008 | TV Series composer - 229 episodes | |
| The United States Steel Hour | 1955 | TV Series vocalist - 1 episode |
Soundtrack
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series | TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2006 writer - 1 episode, 2006 | ||
| Inspector Gadget | 1999 | writer: "Jeopardy Theme" | |
| Saturday Night Live: The Best of Steve Martin | 1998 | TV Special music: "Think!" - uncredited | |
| Rock & Roll Jeopardy! | 1998 | TV Series writer: "Think!" | |
| Sour Grapes | 1998 | writer: "Theme from Wheel of Fortune" | |
| JEP! | 1998 | TV Series writer: "Think!" | |
| The Simpsons | 1997 | TV Series 1 episode | |
| 3rd Rock from the Sun | 1997 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
| The Christmas List | 1997 | TV Movie writer: "A Time For Tony" | |
| Spy Hard | 1996 | writer: "Jeopardy Theme" | |
| The Nanny | 1995 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
| Jury Duty | 1995 | writer: "Jeopardy! Theme" | |
| The Santa Clause | 1994 | writer: "Jeopardy Theme" | |
| The Beverly Hillbillies | 1993 | writer: "JEOPARDY THEME" | |
| Boris and Natasha | 1992 | TV Movie as M. Griffin, "Think Music" | |
| White Men Can't Jump | 1992 | writer: "JEOPARDY! THEME" | |
| The Golden Girls | 1992 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
| Mystery Science Theater 3000 | 1989 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
| Moonlighting | 1987 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
| Jeopardy! | 1984 | TV Series "Rock & Roll Jeopardy! Theme" 2001- / writer: "Jeopardy! Theme" 1984-1992, "Think!" 1984-1997, "Jeopardy! Theme" Bongo Remix 1992-1997, "Jeopardy! Theme" 1997 Edition 1997-2001, "Think!" 1997 Edition Version 1 1997, "Think!" 1997 Edition Version 2 1997-2008, "Jeopardy! Theme" 2001 Remix 2001-2008, "Jeopardy! Theme" 2008 Edition 2008- , "Think!" 2008 Edition Version 1 2008, "Think!" 2008 Edition Version 2 2008- | |
| Wheel of Fortune | 1983 | TV Series writer: "Changing Keys" 1983-1984, "Changing Keys" stereo edition 1984-1989, "Nightwalk" 1983-1994, "Struttin' on Sunset" 1983-1996, "Frisco Disco" 1983 -1989, "A Time for Tony" 1983-1996, "Buzzword" 1989-1996, "Changing Keys" 1989-1992, "Vacation Cue" 1989-1996, "Changing Keys" 1992-1994, "Changing Keys" 1994-1997, "Changing Keys" 1997-2000 | |
| Dance Fever | 1979 | TV Series performer: "Living By The Beat" | |
| The All New Jeopardy! | 1978 | TV Series writer: "January, February, March", "Frisco Disco" | |
| The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour | 1972 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
| The Jerry Lewis Show | 1968 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
| The Robert Q. Lewis Show | 1956 | TV Series performer - 2 episodes | |
| The United States Steel Hour | 1955 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
| So This Is Love | 1953 | performer: "I Kiss Your Hand, Madame" - uncredited | |
| Cattle Town | 1952 | performer: "The Band Played On" - uncredited | |
| Britain's Got More Talent | 2015-2016 | TV Series writer - 5 episodes | |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 2015 | TV Series writer - 3 episodes | |
| Saving Christmas | 2014 | writer: "Jeopardy Theme" | |
| The Amazing Spider-Man 2 | 2014 | writer: "Jeopardy Theme" | |
| Saturday Night Live | 2014 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
| The Three Stooges | 2012 | writer: "Jeopardy Theme" | |
| Pastor Mike Online | 2011 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
| The Big Bang Theory | 2010 | TV Series writer - 2 episodes | |
| Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me | 2009 | TV Movie documentary performer: "Something's Gotta Give" | |
| The Sopranos | 2007 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
| Music and Lyrics | 2007 | writer: "Jeopardy Theme" |
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murder at the Cannes Film Festival | 2000 | TV Movie | Merv Griffin |
| Hercules | 1998 | TV Series | Merv Griffin |
| Echoes of the Big Bands | 1990 | TV Movie | Host |
| Alice in Wonderland | 1985 | TV Movie | The Conductor |
| The Lonely Guy | 1984 | Merv Griffin | |
| The Funny Farm | 1983 | The Voice of... (voice) | |
| Slapstick of Another Kind | 1982 | Anchorman | |
| One-Trick Pony | 1980 | Acappella Singer | |
| Sanford and Son | 1975 | TV Series | Merv Griffin |
| The Girl with Something Extra | 1973 | TV Series | |
| The Red Skelton Hour | 1964-1970 | TV Series | Halloween Ghoulie / Silent Spot / Dapper Dan Dalton / ... |
| Hello Down There | 1969 | Merv Griffin | |
| Inside Daisy Clover | 1965 | Radio Announcer (voice, uncredited) | |
| Phantom of the Rue Morgue | 1954 | Georges Brevert | |
| The Boy from Oklahoma | 1954 | Steve | |
| Three Sailors and a Girl | 1953 | Sailor (uncredited) | |
| So This Is Love | 1953 | Buddy Nash | |
| The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms | 1953 | Announcer & Bespectacled Man (in theatrical trailer) (voice) | |
| Trouble Along the Way | 1953 | Football Broadcaster (voice, uncredited) | |
| By the Light of the Silvery Moon | 1953 | Announcer at Pond (uncredited) | |
| Stop, You're Killing Me | 1952 | Radio Announcer (voice, uncredited) | |
| Cattle Town | 1952 | Joseph - Governor's Secretary |
Composer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeopardy! 25th Aniversary | 2008 | TV Series | |
| Jeopardy! DVD Game | 2007 | Video Game original score music | |
| Jeopardy! | 1995 | Video Game score by | |
| Jeopardy! | 1964 | TV Series |
Director
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Prom | 1960 | TV Series short |
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Masters | 2007 | TV Series documentary special thanks - 1 episode | |
| Convergence | 1999 | special thanks | |
| Ratboy | 1986 | special thanks - as Merv Griffin & his Organization |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Merv Griffin Show 1962-1986 (Best of) | 2014 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| TV Land Moguls | 2004-2009 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself - Host |
| Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon | 2008 | Documentary | Himself |
| Pioneers of Television | 2008 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2007 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | 2006-2007 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Searching for Orson | 2006 | Documentary | Himself |
| The Megan Mullally Show | 2006 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show | 2004-2006 | TV Series | Himself - Guest / Himself |
| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | 1993-2006 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Apprentice: Martha Stewart | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
| I Married a Princess | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Tony Danza Show | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 32nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | 2005 | TV Special | Himself - Recipient: Lifetime Achievement Award |
| The View | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
| Fat Actress | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
| When Disco Ruled the World | 2005 | TV Movie | Himself |
| ALF's Hit Talk Show | 2004 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn | 2004 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Late Show with David Letterman | 2002-2004 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Biography | 2003 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The Wayne Brady Show | 2003 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Daily Show | 2003 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Inside TV Land: 40 Greatest Theme Songs | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Inside TV Land: Taboo TV | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| TVography: Suzanne Somers - Mastering Success | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Rosie O'Donnell Show | 1997-2002 | TV Series | Himself |
| E! True Hollywood Story | 1998-2001 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Robert Wise | 1998 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| The 24th Annual People's Choice Awards | 1998 | TV Special | Himself |
| Wheel of Fortune | 1991-1998 | TV Series | Himself |
| Intimate Portrait | 1998 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's | 1997 | Documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
| Golden Anniversary | 1995 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Hope & Gloria | 1995 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 22nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | 1995 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Outstanding Game / Audience Participation Show |
| The Celebrity Guide to Entertaining | 1993 | Video documentary | Himself |
| AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Sidney Poitier | 1992 | TV Special | Himself (uncredited) |
| The 9th Annual American Cinema Awards | 1992 | TV Special | Himself |
| The Golden Girls | 1992 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1987-1991 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Guest |
| Sinatra 75: The Best Is Yet to Come | 1990 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| The 61st Annual Academy Awards | 1989 | TV Special | Himself - Performer |
| Newhart | 1989 | TV Series | Himself |
| Wheel of Fortune | 1989 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 6th Annual American Cinema Awards | 1989 | TV Special | Himself |
| A Conversation with Dinah | 1989 | TV Series | Himself (1991) |
| The Princess Grace Foundation Special Gala Tribute to Cary Grant | 1988 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Circus of the Stars #12 | 1987 | TV Special documentary | Himself - Ringmaster |
| The American Jewish Commitee Annual Honors Present a Salute to Merv Adelson | 1987 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The 1987 Annual Salute to Hollywood Benefit | 1987 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Don Rickles: Rickles on the Loose | 1986 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Circus of the Stars #11 | 1986 | TV Special documentary | Himself - Ringmaster |
| All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood | 1986 | TV Special | Himself |
| The Merv Griffin Show | 1962-1986 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| Cocoanut Ballroom | 1986 | TV Movie | Himself - Host |
| All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan | 1985 | TV Special | Himself |
| Circus of the Stars #10 | 1985 | TV Special documentary | Himself - Ringmaster |
| Circus of the Stars #9 | 1984 | TV Special documentary | Himself - Ringmaster |
| The Man with Two Brains | 1983 | Himself - The Elevator Killer | |
| Saturday Night Live | 1982 | TV Series | Himself |
| Late Night with David Letterman | 1982 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Regis Philbin Show | 1982 | TV Series | Himself |
| Rich and Famous | 1981 | Himself (uncredited) | |
| The Alan Thicke Show | 1981 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Hour Magazine | 1980 | TV Series | Himself |
| Today | 1980 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Seduction of Joe Tynan | 1979 | Himself | |
| Presenting Susan Anton | 1979 | TV Series | Himself |
| Billy | 1979 | TV Series | Himself |
| Cinderella at the Palace | 1978 | TV Special | Himself |
| Good Morning America | 1977 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The 4th Annual American Music Awards | 1977 | TV Special | Himself |
| Two-Minute Warning | 1976 | Himself - National Anthem Singer | |
| Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman | 1976 | TV Series | Himself |
| Sammy and Company | 1975 | TV Series | Himself |
| Dinah! | 1974 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour | 1971-1974 | TV Series | Himself / Various Characters |
| Merv Griffin and the Christmas Kids | 1973 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The Bob Hope Show | 1973 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1972 | TV Series | |
| Dinah's Place | 1972 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Hollywood Squares | 1972 | TV Series | Himself - Panelist |
| The Pet Set | 1971 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| This Is Your Life | 1971 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Tim Conway Comedy Hour | 1970 | TV Series | Himself |
| Della | 1969-1970 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Carol Burnett Show | 1969 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The 21st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1969 | TV Special | Himself - Host |
| The Red Skelton Hour | 1969 | TV Series | Himself - Interviewer |
| The Jonathan Winters Show | 1968 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Jerry Lewis Show | 1968 | TV Series | Himself |
| Will the Real Norman Mailer Please Stand Up? | 1968 | Documentary | Himself |
| Hippodrome | 1966 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| Word for Word | 1963-1964 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| Talent Scouts | 1963 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| What's My Line? | 1962-1963 | TV Series | Himself - Panelist |
| I've Got a Secret | 1961-1963 | TV Series | Himself - Panelist / Himself - Guest |
| To Tell the Truth | 1958-1963 | TV Series | Himself - Panelist / Himself - Guest Host |
| The Jack Paar Tonight Show | 1959-1962 | TV Series | Himself - Guest Host / Himself |
| The Tonight Show | 1962 | TV Series | Himself - Guest Host / Himself - Host |
| Play Your Hunch | 1958-1962 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| Look Up and Live | 1956-1962 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| Password All-Stars | 1962 | TV Series | Himself - Celebrity Contestant |
| Here's Hollywood | 1961 | TV Series | Himself |
| The DuPont Show of the Week | 1961 | TV Series | Himself |
| Saturday Prom | 1960 | TV Series short | Himself(1960) - - Weekly host |
| Keep Talking | 1959-1960 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| Masquerade Party | 1960 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Arthur Murray Party | 1959 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Price Is Right | 1959 | TV Series | Himself - Guest Host |
| This Is Show Business | 1956 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Robert Q. Lewis Show | 1956 | TV Series | Himself |
| Summer Holiday | 1954 | TV Series | Himself / Co-Host |
| The Morning Show | 1954 | TV Series | Himself / Regular performer |
| The Jackie Gleason Show | 1953 | TV Series | Himself - Guest Vocalist |
| Cavalcade of Stars | 1952 | TV Series | Himself - Guest Vocalist |
| Songs for Sale | 1952 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Freddy Martin Show | 1951 | TV Series | Himself |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Eighties | 2016 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself / Himself - The Merv Griffin Show |
| Entities: The Unveiling | 2016 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago | 2016 | Documentary | Himself |
| The Seventies | 2015 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The Sixties | 2014 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself - Host / Himself / Himself - Talk Show Host |
| John Denver: Country Boy | 2013 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic | 2013 | Documentary | Himself |
| Betty White's 2nd Annual 90th Birthday | 2013 | TV Movie | Himself |
| American Masters | 2012 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel | 2011 | Documentary | Himself |
| Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel | 2011 | Documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
| Sing Your Song | 2011 | Documentary | Himself |
| Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me | 2009 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| E! True Hollywood Story | 1997-2008 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards | 2007 | TV Special | Himself - In Memoriam |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2007 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Insider | 2007 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Last Mogul | 2005 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| Whitney Houston: The Greatest Hits | 2000 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Biography | 2000 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Thunderbolt and Lightfoot | 1974 | Himself (uncredited) | |
| The Ed Sullivan Show | 1970 | TV Series | Himself - Singer |
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Daytime Emmy Awards | ||
| 2003 | President's Award | BMI Film & TV Awards | ||
| 1999 | OFTA TV Hall of Fame | Online Film & Television Association | Behind the Scenes | |
| 1998 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1998 | Special Award of Merit | Publicists Guild of America | ||
| 1995 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1994 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1994 | Michael Landon Award | Young Artist Awards | Jeopardy! (1964) | |
| 1993 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1992 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1991 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1990 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1984 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Variety Series | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
| 1982 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Variety Series | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
| 1974 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Best Writing for a Talk, Service or Variety Program | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
| 1974 | Star on the Walk of Fame | Walk of Fame | Television | Awarded on October 15, 1974 at 1541 Vine Street |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 2000 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1999 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1999 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show | Wheel of Fortune (1983) |
| 1998 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show | Wheel of Fortune (1983) |
| 1997 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1997 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show | Wheel of Fortune (1983) |
| 1996 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1995 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Wheel of Fortune (1983) |
| 1994 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Wheel of Fortune (1983) |
| 1993 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Wheel of Fortune (1983) |
| 1991 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Wheel of Fortune (1983) |
| 1990 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Wheel of Fortune (1983) |
| 1989 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show | Jeopardy! (1984) |
| 1986 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Game or Audience Participation Show | Wheel of Fortune (1983) |
| 1985 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Host in a Talk or Service Series | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
| 1983 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Variety Series | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
| 1981 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Variety Series | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
| 1977 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Talk, Service or Variety Series | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
| 1976 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Talk, Service or Variety Series | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
| 1974 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Best Host or Hostess in a Talk, Service, or Variety Series | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
| 1971 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best TV Actor - Comedy or Musical | The Merv Griffin Show (1962) |
Known for movies
Jeopardy! (1984-2016)
as Producer
Wheel of Fortune (1983-2016)
as Producer
Jeopardy! (1964)
as Producer
Shade (2003)
as Producer
