91-year-old television personality Wink Martindale, famously known for hosting game shows like Tic-Tac-Dough and Gambit, has sadly passed away. According to a statement, he died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California on April 15th, with his beloved wife Sandra Martindale and family by his side. Wink had been happily married to Sandra for an impressive 49 years.
Ana Martinez from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that “memorial flowers for Walk of Fame honoree Wink Martindale will be laid on his star today at 5 pm, which is located at 7018 Hollywood Blvd.” She also mentioned, “The Hollywood community sends its condolences to the Martindale family.
Growing up in Jackson, Tennessee, I was merely 17 when I kicked off my broadcasting journey as a radio DJ. Fast forward, and I found myself at WHBQ in Memphis, where I got a piece of history’s pie. On an unforgettable day, July 10, 1954, Elvis Presley’s groundbreaking debut record, That’s All Right, made its grand entrance on the airwaves for the very first time. In a heartbeat, I picked up the phone to extend an invitation to Elvis’ mother for an exclusive interview at our station, as recounted by PEOPLE magazine.
In a 2018 interview with the Television Academy Foundation, Martindale stated that the individual was so anxious about his record being broadcasted on-air, he sought solace at the theater. They discovered him alone in the theater and escorted him to the station instead.
According to the statement, Martindale claims he encountered Elvis that particular evening, and their bond turned out to be a long-lasting friendship. The communique portrays Martindale as the sole surviving eyewitness to ‘Elvis Mania’ and the emergence of Rock & Roll.
Martindale moved on to television hosting roles, including Mars Patrol and Teenage Dance Party, which brought Elvis back in 1956. His journey into game shows started with NBC’s What’s This Song? in 1964, followed by Words and Music, Gambit, Tic-Tac-Dough, High Rollers, The Last Word, Debt, Instant Recall, Trivial Pursuit, and many others.
He created numerous programs, one of them being Headline Chasers, and frequently expressed his delight in engaging with competitors. During a 2018 interview, he admitted to finding pleasure in encountering diverse individuals through game shows, adding that he could chat endlessly if given the chance.
Apart from his television career, Martindale also tasted success in music with his spoken-word single “Deck of Cards,” released in 1959. This record sold more than a million copies and climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. More recently, he has made guest appearances on shows like The Chase, The Bold and the Beautiful, and adverts for Orbitz and KFC.
In 2006, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and last year, he was recognized with a Beale Street Note in Memphis. Additionally, he was bestowed the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Memphis and became one of the inaugural members inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame.
Martindale generously donated to numerous charities, among them annual fundraisers for Cerebral Palsy and St. Jude Children’s Hospital. He leaves behind his spouse Sandra, sister Geraldine, daughters Lisa, Lyn, and Laura, a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his adoptive son Eric, and his beloved dog, Dude.
Read More
- Margaret Qualley Set to Transform as Rogue in Marvel’s X-Men Reboot?
- DC: Dark Legion The Bleed & Hypertime Tracker Schedule
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ending explained – Who should you side with?
- To Be Hero X: Everything You Need To Know About The Upcoming Anime
- Oblivion Remastered: How to get and cure Vampirism
- Does Oblivion Remastered have mod support?
- Netflix’s ‘You’ Season 5 Release Update Has Fans Worried
- DODO PREDICTION. DODO cryptocurrency
- Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Top 5 Best Bows & Arrows
- Top Potential TGEs To Watch Out For in Q1 2025
2025-04-16 10:53