Mervyn Edward Merv Griffin, Jr. br July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007 br br American talk show host, game show host, entertainer, pianist, television personality and raconteur. He began his career as a singer and also appeared in movies and on Broadway; he later became host of his own TV show, The Merv Griffin Show, and created the long-running award-winning game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune becoming an entertainment business magnate.