Personal Information

Known ForActing

GenderMale

Born / DiedJul 6, 1925 (Died at 82)

Zodiac Sign♋Cancer

Place of BirthSan Mateo, California, USA

Career Span1949 – 2007

Known Credits72 Titles

Official Links

IMDb WWikidata

ActingPopularity Score 1.2

Merv Griffin

Also known as:Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr.

Total Works

32 movies • 40 shows

Avg Rating

6.7 / 10

across rated releases

Box Office

—

worldwide gross

Global Reach

TMDB star index

Biography

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.

Signature Roles & Milestones

Top-rated highlights from Merv Griffin's career

6.4

The Daily Show

1996•series

as Self

7.0

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

2022•movie

as Self (archive footage)

6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975•series

as Self (uncredited)

6.2

The Man with Two Brains

1983•movie

as The Elevator Killer

Photos & Headshots3

Click any photo to view full size

Full Filmography & Credits

Showing 72 titles featuring Merv Griffin

6.4

2 eps

The Daily Show

1996•series

as Self

7.0

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

2022•movie

as Self (archive footage)

6.9

1 eps

Saturday Night Live

1975•series

as Self (uncredited)

6.2

The Man with Two Brains

1983•movie

as The Elevator Killer

7.6

1 eps

The Golden Girls

1985•series

as Merv Griffin

6.8

2 eps

Hercules

1998•series

as Merv Griffin (voice)

6.2

Shade

2003•movie

Role: Producer

7.3

Whitney

2018•movie

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

5.6

2 eps

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003•series

as Self

6.5

1 eps

Late Show with David Letterman

1993•series

as Self (voice) (uncredited)

6.9

Jeopardy!

1984•series

Role: Executive Producer

6.2

The Lonely Guy

1984•movie

as Himself

5.3

1 eps

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992•series

6.3

Two-Minute Warning

1976•movie

as Merv Griffin - National Anthem Singer

7.5

1 eps

Sanford and Son

1972•series

7.6

1 eps

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962•series

as Self

6.9

Wheel of Fortune

1983•series

Role: Producer

8.1

1 eps

E! True Hollywood Story

1996•series

7.7

1 eps

The Carol Burnett Show

1967•series

as Self

7.1

Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

2013•movie

as Self (archive footage)

7.2

Newhart

1982•series

5.6

Inside Daisy Clover

1966•movie

as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)

7.5

2 eps

Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields

2023•series

as Self (archive footage)

6.7

1 eps

Alice in Wonderland

1985•series

as Conductor

7.7

The Real Charlie Chaplin

2021•movie

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

6.1

Trouble Along the Way

1953•movie

as Football Broadcaster (voice)

5.9

The Seduction of Joe Tynan

1979•movie

as Himself

3.1

Slapstick of Another Kind

1982•movie

as Anchorman

6.8

1 eps

CBS News Sunday Morning

1979•series

as Self

6.2

Phantom of the Rue Morgue

1954•movie

as Georges Brevert

7.7

DEVO

2024•movie

as Self (archive footage)

7.3

1 eps

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

1976•series

as Self

6.9

I Am Richard Pryor

2019•movie

as Self - TV Host (archive footage)

5.9

Hello Down There

1969•movie

as Himself

6.7

2 eps

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

1971•series

5.5

One Trick Pony

1980•movie

as Acappella Singer

6.8

1082 eps

The Merv Griffin Show

1962•series

as Self - Host

7.9

1 eps

The Emmy Awards

1949•series

as Self

5.7

The Boy from Oklahoma

1954•movie

as Steve

5.4

Pop Culture Jeopardy!

2024•series

Role: Original Series Creator

7.4

Game Changers

2018•movie

as Self (archive footage)

7.1

My Darling Vivian

2020•movie

as Self (archive footage)

7.1

John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood

2017•movie

as Self - TV Host (archive footage)

5.0

The Fabulous Allan Carr

2017•movie

as Self (archive footage)

5.0

1 eps

Fat Actress

2005•series

as Merv Griffin

4.3

So This Is Love

1953•movie

as Buddy Nash

7.5

5 eps

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

1957•series

as Self - Guest Host

4.7

1 eps

The Megan Mullally Show

2006•series

as Self - Guest

7.0

Jeopardy! Masters

2023•series

Role: Creator

7.6

Cattle Town

1952•movie

as Governor's secretary

4.6

Pop Culture Jeopardy!

2026•series

Role: Original Series Creator

9.0

Jeopardy!

1964•series

Role: Creator

2.5

Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation

2021•movie

as Self - TV Host (archive footage)

7.0

1 eps

Dinah!

1974•series

as Self

7.0

Three Sailors and a Girl

1953•movie

as Sailor (uncredited)

6.3

1 eps

Hope and Gloria

1995•series

as Merv Griffin

6.7

1 eps

The Pet Set

1971•series

as Self

6.0

The Funny Farm

1983•movie

as The Voice Of... (Voice)

6.5

1 eps

Alf's Hit Talk Show

2004•series

3.5

ESPN Jeopardy!

2026•series

Role: Creator

8.0

Murder at the Cannes Film Festival

2000•movie

as Self

7.0

Rickles... On the Loose

1986•movie

as Self

2.0

Mystical Traveler: The Life and Times of Dr. John-Roger

2014•movie

as Self (archive footage)

10.0

1 eps

Presenting Susan Anton

1979•series

8.0

Super Jeopardy!

1990•series

Role: Producer

7.0

Monopoly

1990•series

Role: Producer

Will the Real Norman Mailer Please Stand Up?

1968•movie

as Self

My Guest is Orson Welles

2021•movie

Koło Fortuny

series

Role: Creator

Wheel of Fortune

1988•series

Role: Creator

Lykkehjulet

2020•series

Role: Creator

Roda a Roda

2003•series

Role: Creator