At an impressive 91 years old, Wink Martindale has passed away, leaving behind a loving wife and legacy of game show hosting.
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Wink Martindale, recognisable for his hosting of Tic-Tac-Dough, Gambit, and High Rollers, died in his Rancho Mirage, California home. He was surrounded by loved ones, including his wife of almost 50 years.
He had quite the illustrious career, starting as a radio DJ and ending up as one of the most recognisable faces in US game show hosting. According to the Hollywood Reporter, when he heard about how Password host MC Allen Ludden lived, he wanted in.
According to Wink Martindale, he would "go in two days a week and tape five shows one day and five shows the next and the other five days play golf." This sounded like the kind of life Wink was looking for, so he asked his agent to find him a role on a game show.
Lo and behold, he landed himself a role on NBC's What's That Song?. From there, Wink Martindale went on to host over 20 game shows in his 74-year-long career. His lifelong dedication to his career as a game show host earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A Star-Studded Career For Wink Martindale
Throughout his career, Wink Martindale rubbed shoulders with many famous people. However, it was right at the beginning of his time in public broadcasting that he netted his best. While working as a radio DJ on WHBQ in Memphis, he had a huge guest.
Wink managed to pull Elvis Presley, of all people, in for an interview. This was the first one he had ever done, and was shortly after the release of That's All Right. It marked a big moment in the career of Wink Martindale, but was only the first of many.
Over his 74 years as a game show host, he met many famous people and became a beloved household name. However, now he has passed on, leaving behind many hundreds of hours of game show hosting and a long history of show business. He was able to pass peacefully in his bed, surrounded by loved ones.
