He probably wouldnt have been able to create it without the idea from Julann! We have dropped the story from our entertainment news feed, as it did not meet our standards for news. Officials of the news service did not explain, however, why the article seemed to meet their standards when they originally ran it (Yahoo News, which picked up the Reuters story, kept it up even after Reuters took it down). Merv liked to travel, and his career took him all around the world; he visited many countries on every continent with the exception of the Antarctic, and his dream travel destination was Ireland. Griffin upgraded the properties and turned them into game-show tryouts to attract customers before selling them to Sun International Company in 1993. In researching the story Signorile tried to interview a gay man who had been close to Forbes and his family, someone who could have shed light on the real inner workings of Forbes mind., But, after considerable thought, he decided not to speak to me. He then spent four years touring with Freddy Martin and his orchestra, and having saved up enough money, Merv recorded his first album Songs by Merv Griffin under Panda Records; it was also the first album in the USA to be recorded on magnetic tape.Image source. I have heard two different stories about what she suggested as the first Jeopardy! clue. If youre Griffin, why would you think a judgmental culture would be any more tolerant as you grew into middle and old age? 's revival, hosted by Alex Trebek. Griffin secured an agreement with NBC, which allowed him to set up a production company. Second, it sends a clear message to the public at large that we are everywhere. The third reason Signorile gave was that this story illuminated a choice made by many gay people. Recently appointed editor Elizabeth Guider, a Variety veteran who had taken over The Hollywood Reporter less than a month before, seemingly caved in under pressure from her corporate bosses at Nielsen Business Media or from one of Griffins companies, which threatened legal action (although, of course, there was no legal basis for such a threat). Bandleader Freddy Martin invited Griffin to tour with his orchestra in the 1940s. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1541 Vine Street in Hollywood Boulevard on October 15, 1974. She is known for her work on Haunted Honeymoon (1986), The Woman in Red (1984) and Jeopardy! Jeopardy creator opens up about Hollywood, life in Fluvanna Griffin and Julann Elizabeth Wright were married in 1958, and their son, Anthony, was born the following year. and at first, it was a lullaby written for his son. And Im having a ball., Born in 1929 as Julann Wright, Julann grew up in Ironwood, now a small city on the northern peninsula of Michigan. Robert was furious. Julann Wright. I know people with lots and lots and they just dont seem that happy. I spent my time with her and didnt get around Fluvanna that much, she said. It was a huge hit, and it still is., Though Julann isnt connected with the show anymore, she said she isnt sorry about the lack of royalties. And I said, The answer is 52 Wistful Vista. And he said, What was the address of Fibber McGee and Molly? it was a radio show. Discover Julann Griffin's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Jun. I've been in the public eye for more than fifty years as Merv Griffin, not as somebody else's creation. Discover Julann Griffin's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Theme" 2008 Edition 2008- , "Think!" Eva migrated to the United States after she met and married a Swedish-born Hollywood physician in 1939. As the story bounced around the blogosphere, it clearly was beyond containment, and THR restored the story, although in a less prominent spot. Julann Griffin (Julann Elizabeth Wright) was born on 30 January, 1929 in 1929, is an Actress, Music Department, Soundtrack. In 1983, during the daytime run, an even more successful nighttime edition launched with Pat Sajak and Vanna White as the hosts. Halloween Ghoulie / Silent Spot / Dapper Dan Dalton / Announcer & Bespectacled Man (in theatrical trailer) (voice), TV Series documentary special thanks - 1 episode, special thanks - as Merv Griffin & his Organization, The Merv Griffin Show 1962-1986 (Best of), Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon, Himself - Recipient: Lifetime Achievement Award, TVography: Suzanne Somers - Mastering Success, AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Robert Wise, Himself - Winner: Outstanding Game / Audience Participation Show, AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Sidney Poitier, The Princess Grace Foundation Special Gala Tribute to Cary Grant, The American Jewish Commitee Annual Honors Present a Salute to Merv Adelson, The 1987 Annual Salute to Hollywood Benefit. Occupation: radio comic. Addeddate 2022-10-16 00:52:54 Eva Gabor was born in Budapest to an upper-middle-class family, and she began her career as an ice skater and caf singer. Merv won numerous awards during his career, and in 1974 received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The company filed for bankruptcy protection and became involved in a complicated web of lawsuits and business failures. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. During World War II, Griffin was found unqualified for military service under the 4F standard due to a heart murmur. Publicity Listings A decade later, the cancer returned; it was the primary cause of his death on August 12, 2007, at age 82. In 1958, Jack Paar, host of The Tonight Show, stumbled onto the stage of Play Your Hunch during a taping. Julann Wright Biography It looks like we don't have any Biography for Julann Wright yet. Griffin grew his wealth into billions of dollars with all these business ventures and investments, a remarkable feat for a former TV star. I had a big crush on him, she admitted. Id make them in my dining room. Julann said her sister, Maureen Roberts, who is now 83 and lives in Keswick, created a lot of the content. In her senior year of high school, Julann gave such a touching performance in a play that she says moved some of the audience members to tears. Be the first to respond. And here she was a big star in the movies., Once Julann met Dick Haymes, the star of a movie called State Fair. However, his father disapproved of his career choice and convinced Griffin to take a job as a bank teller. Ill call you back when I find out, Julann told her. | Photo: Getty Images. He launched his own talk-show The Merv Griffin Show in 1965, hosting it alongside the British actor Arthur Veary Treacher. Still dont., Julann laughed away incredulity that she dislikes games given that shes spent years creating them and now owns a game company, Jam and Candy, with her sister and her niece, Candisse Reynolds. I couldnt get over it, she said. Uncategorized 0 comments. Merv Griffin - Wikipedia Other Works It was a pivotal time in my career, one of uncertainty and constant doubt, he wrote in [his] autobiography. When was Julian Wright born? I worked for Robert in his office as a secretary. Julann Griffin was born on January 30, 1929 as Julann Elizabeth Wright. The Associated Press, however, played the game the old way, limiting its obituary to Griffins early marriage: Griffin and Julann Elizabeth Wright were married in 1958, and their son, Anthony, was born the following year. The New York gay magazine Outweek introduced the practice of outing closeted public figures, mostly politicians and show business celebrities who were unwilling to enlist in the cause of fighting AIDS. Age: 82 (6/6/1925 - 8/12/2007) Merv Griffin Photos (4) Merv Griffin's Relationships (2) Check out our New "Top 10 Newest Celebrity Moms". On 6 January 1975, Mervs new game-show premiered, entitled Wheel of Fortune, and ran through 1989; a syndicated version of the show was created not long after that, and has been airing to this day. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? After her divorce, Julann discovered something very distressing, she said. I lost two pounds last night, Julann said, trying to explain why her balance in her heels was off. Dont get me wrong, I love luxury, Julann continued. So it took the edge off me a little bit.. Merv Griffin was married to the former Julann Wright from 1958 until their divorce in 1976. The L.A. Times, which also editorialized against outing, named only dead people: Forbes, Rock Hudson, Liberace, Roy Cohn, Terry Dolan, Perry Ellis and Oliver Sipple; Newsweek limited itself to Forbes (reproducing the OutWeek cover photo and headline) and Liz Smith, a favorite target of the outers who is quoted as saying, I may be a gossip columnist, but I do respect the right of people not to tell me everything, and I reserve the same right for myself. The New York Times would refer only to a famous businessman who had recently died. Times spokesman William Adler took a hard line, saying that the paper would not print hearsay even if the subject is no longer living: The thinking at the Times is that in most cases an individuals private sex life should not be the subject of coverage by the newspaper unless the person wishes it to be so, Adler said. He also revealed the breakup happened just before Eva tragically died. Remembering that time, Julann started grinning. The day before Merv Griffins funeral, the Hollywood Reporter, one of the industry bibles read by everyone in showbiz, ran a front-page story by regular writer Ray Richmond that began, Merv Griffin was gay. Richmond, who had worked for Griffin in the 1980s, went on to note that Mervs secret gay life was widely known throughout showbiz culture, if not the wider America. Richmond made clear why he thought it important to set the record, um, straight about Griffins sexuality: He certainly didnt owe us an explanation, but maybe he owed it to himself to remove the suffocating veil hed been forced to hide behind throughout his adult life. Mother of Private. Although the divorced father of one son, Tony, and a constant companion to actress. And I knew if my body temperature went down Id lose it, so I slept naked with the window open and the snow coming in.. So, how much is Julann Griffin worth at the age of 92 years old? Im glad I got the farm. In recent years, celebrity obituaries have continued the long tradition of burying the departed closet cases in journalistically closed coffins, taking the not-so-secret truth with them to the grave. Julann keeps in touch with her Hollywood friends. Upon arrival in the US, she signed with Paramount Pictures, took acting lessons, and learned to speak proper English. Before he sold his enterprise, Griffin was a very determined investor with radio stations and media outlets acquisitions. And they didnt gossip and this is Hollywood were talking about. 9, 2016 Merv Griffin's Bodyguard of Lies - Truthdig The following years saw Merv appear in a couple of movies, including the 1953 biographical drama So This Is Love, in which he kissed the American actress Kathryn Grayson, the first kiss in a movie since 1934 (introduction of the Production Code). I've never pretended to be someone I wasn't. Currently living a closeted existence with regard to his own family and business, he said, My choice in speaking to you is between myself and the greater gay community. Eva Gabor and TV star Merv Griffin. Born in Budapest, Hungary, the. (1964). But at 5' 9" and 240 pounds, his romantic image on radio certainly did not fit his true look. The Story of Ellen DeGeneres' Rise to Stardom, The Past and Present Hosts of "The Tonight Show", 10 of the Most Memorable Moments on 'Jeopardy! Julann Griffin - Biography - IMDb | Photo: Getty Images, She and her sisters soon became celebrities in the 1950s, with their pictures appearing in various magazines. Its almost like when I was born I was put in a magic chariot and went through life like an idiot being blessed with all these opportunities, she said. Press Esc to cancel. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. | Photo: Getty Images. Since then, all 18-year-old Griffin did was show business. Julann Griffin - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday Nonetheless, the elephant that was his sexual orientation never really stopped following Griffin from room to room. At age 19, he began singing on the radio on the nationally syndicated show San Francisco Sketchbook. I read in the paper that people were going to start playing games on PCs, or personal computers, Julann said. Resolved to deal with the issue, Griffin reportedly lost 80 pounds in only four months. During its 21 years on the air, The Merv Griffin Show received 21 Emmy Award nominations and won 12 times. (1964). | Photo: Getty Images. One woman got so nervous that I took her to the bathroom and she threw up. We adlibbed for years., On the show Julann met all sorts of famous people. Julann Wright was born circa 1929, at birth place, Michigan, to Robert R Wright and Edyre Wright. She and Merv had a son, Tony Griffin, and spent time jetting around on their plane. Posted by Robert's World onSunday, June 24, 2012. Griffin always avoided questions about his sexuality and would joke about it most of the time. 1997 Edition Version 2 1997-2008, "Jeopardy! Alex said, Merv was trying to come up with an idea for a new game show. Given Name: Julann Wright Occupation: Other - Spouse Most Famous For: Edward Mervin Griffin Update Celebrity Profile Check out our New "Top 10 Newest Celebrity Dads" Julann Wright's Relationships The song reached #1 on the pop chart and sold over three million copies. By the time of his death, estimates of his wealth ranged over $1 billion. Portrait of socialites and sisters, Magda Gabor, Eva Gabor, and Zsa Zsa Gabor. And he loved to play games. (1964). It is called Think! There are rumors circulating the internet, claiming that Merv was gay. She is from 1929. But theres no change of seasons there so you dont know youre getting old.. She is a member of famous Actress with the age 92 years old group. When prominent publisher Malcolm Forbes died in February 1990, the exposure of his homosexual side was not long in coming. Julian Wright is 6-8 (203 cm) tall. Their marriage plans were also once revealed by Eva's sister Zsa Zsa who claimed Griffin and Eva would get married after they returned from the Bahamas. As Raymond later wrote on his blog: Incoming editor Elizabeth Guider opined upon reflection that the column was not malicious, mendacious or unfair-minded and therefore [she] was comfortable not merely with its legality but its message as well. In an interview, he said that his wife Julann came up with the idea of giving contestants answers and asking them to come up with the questions. Numerous celebrities attended his funeral, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, the American comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, and the American actor and comedian Dick Van Patten. But one time I brought him a cup of coffee in front of a live audience. He was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2005. If the host is sitting there thinking about his next joke, he isn't listening. Late in his life, Griffin purchased multiple hotels. KFRC billed him as "America's New Romantic Singing Star" in his early radio years. She had roles in The Woman in Red (1984) and Haunted Honeymoon (1986), but said she never thought of herself as a very good actress. Griffin also created a variety of shows that were not as successful as Jeopardy! Then Julann worked for a company that traced people and stock they owned. Take Ten : Julann Wright : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming Browse 13 julann elizabeth wright griffin stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Between 1958 and 1962, Merv hosted the game-shows Play Your Hunch and Keep Talking, while he was also a fill-in host for To Tell the Truth and The Price Is Right. He was also close friends with Actress and former First Lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan, with who he shares the same birthdate, July 6. And just like that she helped to start the First Womens Bank of California. In 1996, Griffin received treatment for prostate cancer. When Hollywood mogul Merv Griffin died on Aug. 12, queer-savvy media watchers wondered whether notices of his passing would maintain his preference for passing as straight. 2008 Edition Version 2 2008-, TV Series writer: "Changing Keys" 1983-1984, "Changing Keys" stereo edition 1984-1989, "Nightwalk" 1983-1994, "Struttin' on Sunset" 1983-1996, "Frisco Disco" 1983 -1989, "A Time for Tony" 1983-1996, "Buzzword" 1989-1996, "Changing Keys" 1989-1992, "Vacation Cue" 1989-1996, "Changing Keys" 1992-1994, "Changing Keys" 1994-1997, "Changing Keys" 1997-2000, TV Series performer: "Living By The Beat", TV Series writer: "January, February, March", "Frisco Disco", performer: "I Kiss Your Hand, Madame" - uncredited, performer: "The Band Played On" - uncredited, TV Movie documentary performer: "Something's Gotta Give". and it worked for 11 years, after which he came up with "Wheels Of Fortune," another game show in 1975. , money, salary, income, and assets. Theme" 2001 Remix 2001-2008, "Jeopardy! But around 1950 Julann got the job that she said changed her life. Merv Griffin - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia He could duck it for a while, but it would always find him. Julann Griffin (Julann Elizabeth Wright) was born on 30 January, 1929 in 1929, is an Actress, Music Department, Soundtrack. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Still, these lawsuits brought out into the open, if briefly, what had long been known in Hollywood: namely, that the divorced father of one, and highly visible public escort of Eva Gabor, was also gay. - when asked if he was gay. He was a visionary and a gentleman, a rare find in showbiz. Mother Edrye M Trier. | | Photo: Getty Images. Tony Griffin Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth The original Jeopardy!, first titled What's the Question?,included Art Fleming as host and lasted 11 years until it ended in 1975. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? Lives on a plantation in Virginia and has an organic garden. Julann Griffin - Biography. Merv Griffin Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements At 92 years old, Julann Griffin height not available right now. He launched his career as a singer aged 19, when he sang on the radio show San Francisco Sketchbook; at that time, Merv was slightly overweight and thus disappointed his fans when they got to see him in person. Of course, Merv made the show happen among many other popular hit shows. Griffin and Eva planned to get married and picked Nancy Reagan to be the matron of honor. At the time of his death, he was one of the wealthiest people in the entertainment industry, with a net worth of over $1 billion. Merv was still very young when he began playing the game Hangman, mostly with his sister during their family road trips; it was this game that later inspired Merv to create game-shows which remain popular to this day, such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! He was also into singing while growing up, and sang with his church choir, then became his churchs organist in his teenage years. I love the beauty of the nature around here, she said. Julann Griffin was born on January 30, 1929. However, Griffin still considered the hope of being an entertainer. She soon appeared in the 1941 movie "Forced Landing," which was not very successful. Julann Elizabeth. 16 Julann Wright Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 16 Julann Wright Premium High Res Photos Browse 16 julann wright stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. And thats how Jeopardy! came to be.. They traveled everywhere together, from Morocco to other islands. Declared 4F after failing several military physical exams during which a slight heart murmur was detected, the then-overweight Griffin took a job in the supply depot of a San Francisco shipyard to contribute to the World War II effort. Hungarian actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor with her family at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, October 01, 1958. This led to the creation of "The Eva Gabor Show. Then again, Merv carved his niche in the entertainment world at a time when being gay wasnt OK, when disclosure was unthinkable and the allegation alone could deep-six ones career. She was previously married to Merv Griffin. The Hollywood star was admitted to the hospital on June 21 after breaking her hip from a fall while traveling. Some broadcast it in the daytime, others during primetime, and still others as a late-night competitor toThe Tonight Show. Merv was raised in San Mateo alongside his older sister Barbara, born in 1923, by their mother Rita Elizabeth Griffin (nee Robinson) who was a housewife, and their father Mervyn Edward Griffin, Sr. who was a stockbroker. Griffin began his NBC daytime show, "The Merv Griffin Show," in 1962. Merv eventually stole Julann away from Lewis, she said, when she went to work on Mervs show instead. Discover Julann Griffins Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. My philosophy is that you have to constantly be turning the page, which prevents me from getting caught up in any negativity. I used to have her milked and made cheese, Julann said. After a failed revival of Jeopardy! Received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2005, and a similar award from the Museum of Television and Radio in New York. It was a beautiful horse that won a lot of prizes, though I didnt ride her. During that time, she also appeared and received praises for her performance in the Broadway production of "The Happy Time." Thats why I always say gossip pages should come with little warning labels: The rules of regular journalism were not followed in reporting these stories.In the case of homosexuality, we begin with a topic that already puts a strain on the rules of journalism. Julann Griffin Death Fact Check, Birthday & Age | Dead or Kicking The studio audience loved it. is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Merv wasnt drafted during World War II because of a heart murmur which the doctor had detected, and he was already over 26 during the Korean War, and thus wasnt drafted again. It taught us a lesson.. And at this moment I have to go with myself.. We really had to work hard to get the guys at NBC to like the game because they said it was too hard, Julann said. The longtime host of Jeopardy!, Alex Trebek once opened up about the history of the show. After the first cancellation of Jeopardy!, Griffin produced a follow-up show called Wheel of Fortune based on the word puzzle Hangman. Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. Ah, its show business, Julann laughed, shrugging off the loss. All content 2023 Truthdig, LLC. The show was later renamed "The Merv Griffin Show. He owned Beverly Hilton Hotel, Resorts International and Palm Springs Merv Griffin Givenchy Resort & Spa. My older sister told me I ought to go to New York, that I was a wonderful actress, said Julann. Reuters, however, which had run the story when THR first posted it, took it down and did not put it back. They are better parents than I was. Merv produced the TV game-show Jeopardy! in 1964, and later revealed that it was his wife Julanns idea, and that when he went on to pitch it to NBC, they bought it without even wanting a pilot episode. This information was blown up in 1991 when he was targeted in lawsuits accusing him of sexual harassment. I think it was great that I put in a tennis court that changed my whole life., Julann stopped and thought for a moment. Whats a PC? Julann said her sister asked. Did the actual voice recording for "Once Upon A Time" (Prince Phillip) in Walt Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" (1959). Jeopardy! Where is Merv Griffin today? Net Worth, Wife, Gay. Still Alive? The American TV star and business mogul died of prostate cancer in 2007 at the age of 82. In fact, Fluvanna residents may be surprised at the names of the folks who have been quietly visiting Julann at her Palmyra home. I was all gung-ho about women, but then I went and got this farm, she said, referencing her plantation in Palmyra. I liked my waitress job because of what it did for me. She is known for her work on The Woman in Red (1984), Haunted Honeymoon (1986) and Jeopardy! Griffin was married to Julann Wright, and together they had a son named Anthony. Why is there a need to preserve a straight fantasy in death? Birthday: July 6, 1925 ( Cancer) Born In: San Mateo, California, United States 32 4 T V & Movie Producers #382 TV Presenters #82 Talk Show Hosts #26 Quick Facts Also Known As: Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. Died At Age: 82 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Julann Wright father: Mervyn Edward Griffin, Sr. mother: Rita Elizabeth Griffin children: Tony Griffin Eva Gabor (1919-1995) - Find a Grave Memorial Benjy has also written for DailyMail and TMZ. Julann Griffin Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Family [2] He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway. During Julanns years doing summer stock theater, she met a man named Jerry Silberman, who later changed his name to Gene Wilder. Family (1) Spouse Merv Griffin ( 18 May 1958 - June 1976) (divorced) (1 child) Trivia (5) Mother of Tony Griffin. Upon matriculating in 1942, he enrolled at San Mateo Junior College, and then progressed to the University of San Francisco, from which he graduated with a Bachelors degree in 1946. It was a waste of gas, she joked. And I realized the roosters push the hens around. The fish were all gone. Theme" Bongo Remix 1992-1997, "Jeopardy! Merv Griffin poses with the award for lifetime achievement in the press room at the 32nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at Radio City Music Hall May 20, 2005. Griffin was involved in the music; he was responsible for the theme song "Changing Keys.". See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites He had bought "Teleview Racing Patrol," which he turned into a major source of closed-circuit broadcasts of horse racing and also off-track betting and inter-track wagering sites in America. Popular as a host, Griffin frequently substituted for Bill Cullen on The Price Is Rightand Bud Collyer on To Tell the Truth. Born in 1929 as Julann Wright, Julann grew up in Ironwood, now a small city on the northern peninsula of Michigan. Griffin is buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Screenwriter, Film Score Composer, Television producer, Talk show host, Actor, Business magnate, Media proprietor, Singer, Entertainer. After leaving high school, Griffin enrolled at San Mateo Junior College and moved to the University of San Francisco, where he later dropped out. The couple divorced in 1976. Julann Griffin Net Worth 2023: Wiki Bio, Married, Dating, Family His fear of coming out was ascribed to the possible effect on his career when people did not accept homosexuality in Hollywood. This is believed to be why he went around town in the company of people like Eva Gabor, with whom he reportedly had a platonic relationship. CBS canceled The Merv Griffin Show in 1972, but it continued in syndication and as part of the Metromedia network of independent TV stations until 1986. Mother-in-law of Tricia Griffin. But despite the occasional adversarial pretense, these groups really collude in providing the sort of gossip they believe the public wants to know. In addition to his success as operator of a TV production company, Merv Griffin expanded his business interests into real estate. Griffin was a piano prodigy. ", In 1953, the three sisters already had nightclub acts in Vegas, and Eva further appeared in another movie titled "The Last Time I Saw Paris.". Family tree. Tony Griffin was born in California in December 1959. We have estimated Merv studied at San Mateo High School, and was interested in various activities during his four years there, including playing the piano and practicing dancing. Eva Gabor died of respiratory distress at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; she was 74 years old at the time. that lasted only five months in 1978-1979, a new version with Alex Trebek as host began in 1984. So we had to dumb it down for them. But we didnt need it. Merv always wanted a yacht, she said, so after the divorce he bought one and invited her to come along for a ride.