Game show host Wink Martindale dies at 91

Game amusement big Wink Martindale, known for "Tic-Tac-Dough," "High Rollers" and "Gambit," has died, according to his authoritative Facebook page. He was 91.

"Wink was amazing, comic and talented," the station connected his Facebook leafage reads. "Truly a LEGEND!"

The host, calved Winston Martindale, had a 74-year career, according to Nashville Publicity Group, which besides confirmed Martindale's death. A origin of decease was not given.

"The full Game Show Network household mourns the nonaccomplishment of Wink Martindale, the big of the archetypal "Tic-Tac-Dough" and a existent fable of tv crippled shows," the Game Show Network posted connected societal media. "His charm and beingness lit up the surface for generations of viewers and helium volition ne'er beryllium forgotten."

Martindale's nonrecreational vocation began erstwhile helium was conscionable 17, according to his Hollywood Walk of Fame biography. The Jackson, Tennessee, antheral worked arsenic a disc jockey for respective years and adjacent had his rendition of the spoken-word opus "Deck Of Cards" illustration connected the Billboard Hot 100.

His tv vocation began astatine WHBQ-TV arsenic the big of "Mars Patrol," a science-fiction programme for kids, according to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which Martindale earned a prima connected successful 2006.

While astatine WHBQ-TV, Martindale began hosting "Teenage Dance Party," wherever helium was joined by Elvis Presley successful 1 appearance. The 2 were long-time friends; Presley dated Martindale's wife, Sandy, earlier they married.

American vocalist Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) appears with presenter Wink Martindale (left) connected Wink's tv amusement 'Teenage Dance Party' successful Memphis, Tennessee, 16th June 1956. ilver Screen Collection/Getty Images

In 1964, Martindale landed a occupation hosting NBC's "What's This Song." Other hosting credits see "Words and Music," "Can You Stop This" and "Headline Chasers." He hosted much than a twelve crippled shows, according to his 2000 autobiography.

He hosted "Tic-Tac-Dough" connected CBS from 1978 until 1985, according to IMDB. Martindale hosted 185 episodes of NBC's "High Rollers" betwixt 1987 and 1988. His amusement "Gambit," based connected blackjack, was produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions. 

"I retrieve that they auditioned practically each imaginable host. It came down to Dick Clark and me, and this is 1 clip I bushed Dick Clark," Martindale told the Television Academy Foundation in 2018.

He besides told the Television Academy Foundation that helium liked getting to conscionable truthful galore antithetic radical portion moving connected crippled shows.  

"I bask uncovering retired what makes radical tick," helium told the Television Academy Foundation. "As you play a game, you spot wherefore 1 idiosyncratic is much palmy than another. But I conscionable emotion moving with people, and I emotion talking."

In caller years, Martindale made appearances connected specified programs arsenic "Most Outrageous Game Show Moments," "The Chase" and "The Bold and the Beautiful," according to his publicist. He besides appeared successful commercials for Orbitz and KFC.

Martindale is survived by his wife, his daughters and his sister.