TV and radio host Wink Martindale, best known for helming the game shows “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough,” has died, according to reports. He was 91.
The former disc jockey, born Winston Conrad Martindale, died Tuesday in Rancho Mirage, California, while surrounded by his family, The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times reported. A cause of death was not given.
USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Martindale for comment.
Martindale, who previously hosted at the Memphis, Tennessee, station WHBQ, broke into the TV world with a hosting gig on the WHBQ-TV show “Mars Patrol,” a sci-fi series for children he led from 1953-1955.
After hosting the musical game shows “What’s This Song?” and “Words and Music” for NBC, Martindale became a household name when he was chosen by CBS to head its blackjack-themed series “Gambit” in 1972. He hosted the show’s original run through 1976 and later emceed a Las Vegas spinoff on NBC from 1980-1981.
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Martindale also hosted the CBS revival of the NBC trivia game show “Tic-Tac-Dough” from 1978-1985. His other credits include “High Rollers” and “Headline Chasers,” the latter of which he created and co-produced with fellow TV host Merv Griffin.
Martindale was married to Sandy Ferra, who previously dated singer Elvis Presley. Martindale was also friends with the rock icon, with Presley appearing on the TV personality’s show “Teenage Dance Party” in 1956.
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Presley is “responsible for my marrying Wink,” Ferra said in a 2015 interview with Elvis Australia. “When (Martindale) said he was from Tennessee, I thought, ‘He must be a nice guy,’ because I loved the state, I loved all the guys, I loved everything in the state of Tennessee because Elvis was such a wonderful part of my life.”
Aside from his hosting prowess, Martindale scored a pop hit in 1959 with his rendition of the recitation song “The Deck of Cards.” The song peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Martindale was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2006.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
