Wink Martindale, Game Show Legend, Early Elvis Interviewer, Dies at 91

Wink Martindale, the beloved and genial host of iconic game shows such as “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough,” and a figure who played a part in early rock ‘n’ roll history by conducting one of the first recorded television interviews with a young Elvis Presley, has died, The AP reports.

He was 91 years old.

Martindale passed away peacefully on Tuesday at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, California, following a year-long battle with lymphoma, according to his publicist Brian Mayes.

Born Winston Conrad Martindale on December 4, 1933, in Jackson, Tennessee, Martindale’s passion for broadcasting ignited in his childhood. By the age of 17, he was already a disc jockey at WPLI in his hometown. He credited his years as a radio DJ, where he honed his ad-lib skills and learned to navigate unpredictable situations, as invaluable preparation for his later success as a game show host. He estimated that he hosted nearly two dozen game shows during his career.

Beyond his on-screen charisma, Martindale was also a savvy entrepreneur, establishing his own production company, Wink Martindale Enterprises, to develop and produce his own game shows. His first venture under this banner was “Headline Chasers,” a co-production with Merv Griffin. His next show, “Bumper Stumpers,” enjoyed a successful run on both U.S. and Canadian television from 1987 to 1990. Later in his career, he hosted, “Debt” (1996-98) on Lifetime cable and “Instant Recall” (2010) on GSN.

Martindale’s run on NBC’s “Gambit” began in 1972, the same day as “The Price is Right” and “The Joker’s Wild”. While initially successful, “Gambit” was ultimately eclipsed by the burgeoning popularity of “Wheel of Fortune.” He found further success with “Tic-Tac-Dough” on CBS, presiding over Navy Lt. Thom McKee’s record-breaking 88-game winning streak. Martindale wrote that producer Dan Enright once told him that in the seven years he hosted “Tic-Tac-Dough” he gave away over $7 million in cash and prizes.

In 2012, Martindale returned to his roots in radio, hosting the nationally syndicated “The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time.” More recently, in 2021, he hosted the syndicated program “The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Proving his continued appeal to a broad audience, Martindale even appeared in a KFC ad campaign alongside actor Rob Lowe in 2017.

But Martindale’s contributions extended beyond the world of game shows. He was working at WHBQ in Memphis in 1954 when Elvis Presley’s first record, “That’s All Right,” received its debut airplay. Recognizing Presley’s burgeoning talent, Martindale secured a joint interview with the young musician on his TV show “Top Ten Dance Party” in 1956, providing one of the earliest television interviews with the future King of Rock and Roll. The pair maintained a connection over the years, with Martindale even conducting a trans-Atlantic telephone interview with Presley during his time in the Army in Germany. Martindale’s second wife, Sandy, even briefly dated Presley, after meeting him on the set of “G.I. Blues” in 1960.

Martindale also achieved brief musical success, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959 with his spoken word cover version of “Deck of Cards”.

Martindale is remembered not only for his smooth delivery and engaging presence on television and radio, but also for his entrepreneurial spirit and significant, albeit early, connection to rock and roll history. He is survived by Sandy, his second wife of 49 years, and his children Lisa, Madelyn, and Laura, as well as numerous grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Wink Jr. Martindale’s children are from his first marriage, which ended in divorce in 1972.