Merv Griffin was an American television host and media mogul.

He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in film and on Broadway.

From 1958 to 1962, Griffin hosted a game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman called Play Your Hunch. The show appeared on all three networks, but primarily on NBC. He also substituted for a week for the vacationing Bill Cullen on The Price Is Right, and also for Bud Collyer on To Tell the Truth.

From 1965 to 1986, Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show.

He also created the internationally popular game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune through his television production companies, Merv Griffin Enterprises and Merv Griffin Entertainment.

During his lifetime, Griffin was considered an entertainment business magnate.

Merv Griffin was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2008.