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USA Today
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
TV host Wink Martindale, known for 'Gambit' and 'Tic-Tac-Dough,' dies at 91: Reports
TV host Wink Martindale, known for 'Gambit' and 'Tic-Tac-Dough,' dies at 91: Reports 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. 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. 'Your acclaim will live on': Judas Priest drummer Les Binks dies at 73 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. Jean Marsh dies: 'Upstairs, Downstairs' star and co-creator was 90 Martindale was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2006. Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
CBS News
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Wink Martindale, host of game shows "Tic-Tac-Dough" and "High Rollers," dies at 91
Game show host Wink Martindale, known for "Tic-Tac-Dough," "High Rollers" and "Gambit," has died, according to his official Facebook page. He was 91. "Wink was amazing, funny and talented," the post on his Facebook page reads. "Truly a LEGEND!" The host, born Winston Martindale, had a 74-year career, according to Nashville Publicity Group, which also confirmed Martindale's death. A cause of death was not given. "The entire Game Show Network family mourns the loss of Wink Martindale, the host of the original "Tic-Tac-Dough" and a true legend of television game shows," the Game Show Network posted on social media. "His charm and presence lit up the screen for generations of viewers and he will never be forgotten." Martindale's professional career began when he was just 17, according to his Hollywood Walk of Fame biography. The Jackson, Tennessee, man worked as a disc jockey for several years and even had his rendition of the spoken-word song "Deck Of Cards" chart on the Billboard Hot 100 . His television career began at WHBQ-TV as the host of "Mars Patrol," a science-fiction program for kids, according to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which Martindale earned a star on in 2006. While at WHBQ-TV, Martindale began hosting "Teenage Dance Party," where he was joined by Elvis Presley. The two were long-time friends ; Presley dated Martindale's wife, Sandy, before they married. In 1964, Martindale landed a job hosting NBC's " What's This Song ." Other hosting credits include "Words and Music," "Can You Stop This" and "Headline Chasers." He hosted more than a dozen game shows, according to his 2000 autobiography. He hosted "Tic-Tac-Dough" on CBS from 1978 until 1985, according to IMDB. Martindale hosted 185 episodes of NBC's "High Rollers" between 1987 and 1988. His show "Gambit," based on blackjack, was produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions. "I remember that they auditioned practically every possible host. It came down to Dick Clark and me, and this is one time I beat Dick Clark," Martindale told the Television Academy Foundation in 2018. He also told the Television Academy Foundation that he liked getting to meet so many different people while working on game shows. "I enjoy finding out what makes people tick," he told the Television Academy Foundation . "As you play a game, you see why one person is more successful than another. But I just love working with people, and I love talking." In recent years, Martindale made appearances on such programs as "Most Outrageous Game Show Moments," "The Chase" and "The Bold and the Beautiful," according to his publicist. He also appeared in commercials for Orbitz and KFC. Martindale is survived by his wife, his daughters and his sister.
