Merv Griffin
Birthday: Born in 1925-07-06 in San Mateo, California, USA
Deathday: 2007-08-12
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American television host, singer, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. During the 1960s, Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show, and created the game shows Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Click, and Merv Griffin's Crosswords. He is considered an entertainment business magnate.
TV Credits
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Character: Self
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to just Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres....
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Character:
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour is an American variety show starring American pop-singer Cher and her husband, Sonny Bono. The show ran on CBS in the United States, when it premiered in August 1971. The show was canceled May 1974, due to the couple's divorce, though the duo would reunite in 1976 for the identically-formatted The Sonny & Cher Show, which ran until 1977....
The Daily Show
Character: Self
The World's Fakest News Team tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and pop culture....
The Golden Girls
Character: Merv Griffin
Four Southern Florida seniors share a house, their dreams, and a whole lot of cheesecake. Bright, promiscuous, clueless and hilarious, these lovely, mismatched ladies form the perfect circle of friends....
The Merv Griffin Show
Character: Self - Host
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to August 15, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in first-run syndication from February 14, 1972 to September 5, 1986....
Fat Actress
Character: Merv Griffin
Kirstie Alley's semi-autobiographical tale describes her struggles as a former television star with weight loss, getting roles, and finding love....
E! True Hollywood Story
Character:
E! True Hollywood Story is an American documentary series on E! that deals with famous Hollywood celebrities, movies, TV shows and also well-known public figures. Among the topics covered on the program include salacious re-tellings of Hollywood secrets, show-biz scandals, celebrity murders and mysteries, porn-star biographies, and "where-are-they-now?" investigations of former child stars. It frequently features in-depth interviews, actual courtroom footage, and dramatic reenactments. When aire...
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Character:
Jay Leno hosts some of the biggest celebrities in the world....
Sanford and Son
Character:
The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son....
Newhart
Character:
Dick Loudon and his wife Joanna decide to leave life in New York City and buy a little inn in Vermont. Dick is a how-to book writer, who eventually becomes a local TV celebrity as host of "Vermont Today." George Utley is the handyman at the inn and Leslie Vanderkellen is the maid, with ambitions of being an Olympic Ski champion; she is later replaced by her cousin Stephanie, an heiress who hates her job. Her boyfriend is Dick's yuppie TV producer, Michael Harris. There are many other quirky char...
CBS News Sunday Morning
Character: Self
The sparkling notes of a trumpet fanfare and the familiar logo of the sun alert viewers that it's time for CBS's Sunday morning staple. Journalist Jane Pauley helms the show, taking over hosting duties from Charles Osgood, who spent 22 years on the job. A morning talk show, this program airs at a different pace and focuses much of its attention on the performing arts. After a quick update of the day's news and national weather, correspondents offer longer-length segments on a variety of topics, ...
The Emmy Awards
Character: Self
An annual awards ceremony honoring the best in U.S. prime time television programming as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences....
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields
Character: Self (archive footage)
Actor, model, and global superstar Brooke Shields’ journey from a sexualized young girl to a woman who embraces her identity and voice....
Hercules
Character: Merv Griffin (voice)
Follow Herc's many labors during the years he spent training on how to be a hero under the tutelage of satyr Phil. Many of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses pay visit to the young hero-to-be and help or hinder him in his new adventures....
Presenting Susan Anton
Character:
"Presenting Susan Anton" is a variety hour that spotlights the music and comedy talents of Susan Anton and helped catapult the beautiful blonde bombshell into the limelight....
Alf's Hit Talk Show
Character:
ALF's Hit Talk Show is an American cable television talk show that aired on TV Land in 2004 for seven episodes. The host is the puppet character ALF, of 1980s television fame. At the beginning of each show, ALF is introduced by his "sidekick", Ed McMahon. The show ran in a 30-minute block and featured guests such as Drew Carey and Joe Mantegna. Prior to the series' debut, Entertainment Weekly described ALF's Hit Talk Show as "a one-shot, a lead-in" for TV Land's marathon of the original ALF sitc...
Hope and Gloria
Character: Merv Griffin
Hope and Gloria is an American sitcom produced by Warner Bros. Television and aired on NBC from March 9, 1995, through June 22, 1996. The show was canceled after 35 episodes. It starred Cynthia Stevenson and Jessica Lundy, respectively, as the titular characters, both working in an office environment in downtown Pittsburgh. The program also starred Alan Thicke as a local talk show host and featured Enrico Colantoni in one of his first regular roles on television. The series was broadcast in Bri...
The Carol Burnett Show
Character: Self - Guest
The Carol Burnett Show is an American variety/sketch comedy television show starring Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway. It originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 278 episodes and originated from CBS Television City's Studio 33. The series won 25 prime time Emmy Awards, was ranked No. 16 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time in 2002 and in 2007 was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All Time."...
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Character: Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time....
The Pet Set
Character: Self
Each episode of this part talk show, part docuseries begins with animal-loving celebrities showcasing their pets. The showcase transitions into a documentary segment on the species previously showcased, followed by a discussion with an animal expert, and concluding with host Betty White and sometimes her guest stars outside with a wild animal....
The Megan Mullally Show
Character: Self - Guest
Two-time Emmy Award-winner Megan Mullally, coming off eight seasons as wisecracking socialite Karen Walker on NBC's "Will & Grace," moves into the driver's seat as host for this daytime talk show. Each episode is an entertaining hour featuring a mix of celebrities, real people, music, and comedy. Megan will interview top celebrities and also introduce the world to guests of all kinds — from quirky characters to funny kids to offbeat experts....
Alice in Wonderland
Character: Conductor
Sometimes she's too big. Or much too small. Sometimes things are backwards. And there's always too much pepper in the soup! Nothing is quite right since Alice chased a very unusual White Rabbit and stumbled into an adventure that grows curiouser and curiouser. One of the greatest childhood fantasies is captured in Irwin Allen's colorful production adapted from Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Originally aired over two nights in 1985 on CBS....
Dinah!
Character: Self
Dinah's show premiered 9 September 1974 and continued through to 4 September 1981. She started out the 70's with Dinah's Place which usually featured one guest and was more of a home oriented show about cooking, crafts and occasionally music. This format lasted until May of 1974. When the show came back in October of 1974 the format had changed drastically to a variety talk show which was called Dinah. and went on until 1981. This show was also known as "Dinah and Friends" during the summer of 1...
Movie Credits
I Am Richard Pryor
Character: Self - TV Host (archive footage)
The life story of Richard Pryor (1940-2005), the legendary performer and iconic social satirist who transcended racial and social barriers with his honest, irreverent and biting humor....
Hello Down There
Character: Himself
Given the chance to live in a simulated underwater home for a month, a scientist convinces his family to take advantage of the offer. Once the family agrees to move in, underwater mayhem occurs!...
The Lonely Guy
Character: Himself
A writer for a greeting card company learns the true meaning of loneliness when he comes home to find his girlfriend in bed with another man....
Phantom of the Rue Morgue
Character: Georges Brevert
When several women are found mutilated and murdered, the Paris police are baffled as to who the killer may be. All evidence points to Dupin, but soon it becomes apparent that it is someone (or something) stronger and deadlier than a human....
Slapstick of Another Kind
Character: Anchorma
A rich, beautiful couple give birth to deformed alien twins who, when their heads are together, are the smartest kids on the planet....
Cattle Town
Character: Governor's secretary
The governor of Texas sends a cowboy to keep the peace between ranchers and a land baron....
The Boy from Oklahoma
Character: Steve
A town despot makes a guileless patsy the sheriff, lives to regret it....
Inside Daisy Clover
Character: Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
A girl on the road to stardom fights the dehumanizing effects of Hollywood life....
So This Is Love
Character: Buddy Nash
Film biography of opera star Grace Moore, released in 1953....
Murder at the Cannes Film Festival
Character: Self
A comedic murder mystery set in the middle of the Cannes Film Fest. Amidst the bumbling and drama, twists and turns emerge....
One Trick Pony
Character: Acappella Singer
An aging rock star trying to put together a new album in the face of an indifferent record label and a talentless producer. At the same time, he's struggling to save his failing marriage....
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Character: Self (archive footage)
The joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time. Tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom....
Will the Real Norman Mailer Please Stand Up?
Character: Self
Portrait of Norman Mailer at the time of the Pentagon demonstrations in 1967, documenting Mailer's involvement and arrest, together with two TV appearances and shooting on the set of his second film 'Beyond the Law'....
Trouble Along the Way
Character: Football Broadcaster (voice)
Struggling to retain custody of his daughter following his divorce, football coach Steve Williams finds himself embroiled in a recruiting scandal at the tiny Catholic college he is trying to bring back to football respectability....
The Man with Two Brains
Character: The Elevator Killer
A brain surgeon marries a femme fatale, causing his life to turn upside down. Things go more awry when he falls in love with a talking brain....
Three Sailors and a Girl
Character: Sailor (uncredited)
A group of sailors invest in a musical revue....
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
Character: Self (archive footage)
Mike Epps, Richard Pryor Jr. and others recount the culture-defining influence of Richard Pryor - one of America's most brilliant, iconic comic minds....
Whitney
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Examines the life and career of singer Whitney Houston. Features never-before-seen archival footage, exclusive recordings, rare performances and interviews with the people who knew her best....
Rickles... On the Loose
Character: Self
Special featuring Don Rickles in his live comedy act at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, mixed with footage of Rickles "on the loose" across the state of California....
Game Changers
Character: Self (archive footage)
Alex Trebek hosts a documentary about television game shows featuring interviews with a number of game show hosts and producers....
My Darling Vivian
Character: Self (archive footage)
The story of Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife and the mother of his four daughters. Includes never-before-seen footage and photographs of Johnny Cash and Rosanne Cash, as well as footage featuring Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, Tim Robbins, Whoopi Goldberg, John C. Reilly and many more....
Two-Minute Warning
Character: Merv Griffin - National Anthem Singer
A psychotic sniper plans a massive killing spree in a Los Angeles football stadium during a major championship game. The police, led by Captain Peter Holly and the SWAT commander, learn of the plot and rush to the scene....
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Character: Self - TV Host (archive footage)
The gripping story of legendary American actor John Travolta: his rise to stardom in the 1970s; his agonizing fall in disgrace in the 1980s; and his stunning artistic rebirth in the 1990s....
Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation
Character: Self - TV Host (archive footage)
The parallel lives of writer Truman Capote (1924-84) and playwright Tennessee Williams (1911-83): two friends, two geniuses who, while creating sublime works, were haunted by the ghosts of the past, the shadow of constant doubt, the demon of addictions and the blinding, deceptive glare of success....
The Seduction of Joe Tynan
Character: Himself
Respected liberal Senator Joe Tynan is asked to to lead the opposition to a Supreme Court appointment. It means losing an old friend and fudging principles to make the necessary deals, as well as further straining his already part-time family life. But it could be a big boost to his career, so he takes it on. Helping him prepare the case is pretty southern researcher Karen Traynor, and their developing relationship further complicates and compromises his life....
The Real Charlie Chaplin
Character:
A look at the life and work of Charlie Chaplin in his own words featuring an in-depth interview he gave to Life magazine in 1966....
The Funny Farm
Character: The Voice Of... (Voice)
The laughs are nonstop as a gang of ambitious young comics strives to make it in the exciting world of stand-up comedy at the famous comedy club in L.A., The Funny Farm. These budding comedy stars are as crazy offstage as they are on: Miguel, America s funniest illegal alien ; Miles, who can t decide if he s a black comic or a comic who happens to be black; Bruce, whose manic act borders on insanity; and Peter, the intense political satirist. The Funny Farm is a hilarious and insightful look int...
Mystical Traveler: The Life and Times of Dr. John-Roger
Character: Self (archive footage)
This inspiring documentary follows the life and times of Dr. John-Roger - NY Times #1 Bestselling Author and Spiritual Wayshower. From adolescence John-Roger was aware of much more than this physical level....