[6] Griffin was a member of the international fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon. Since then, all 18-year-old Griffin did was show business. [49] His son, Tony, accepted the awards on their behalf. Around that time, Griffin composed the show's best-known theme song, "Changing Keys", which was used in several variants of the show until 2000. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W (Westinghouse) Broadcasting. The show was later renamed "The Merv Griffin Show. Since making her TV debut on The Merv Griffin Show with the song in June 1983, pop/R&B singer Whitney Houstons performance of Home has been used heavily in Houstons discography. Griffin frequently chatted with audience members. American talk show host, singer, and game show producer (19252007). However, Griffin still considered the hope of being an entertainer. That was up to him. When political activist Abbie Hoffman was his guest in April 1970, CBS blurred the video of Hoffman so viewers at home would not see his trademark American flag pattern shirt, even though other guests had worn the same shirt in the past, uncensored. It ran on all three networks, but primarily NBC. Countless stars, including Rock Hudson, Anthony Perkins, and Elton John, have taken this tried-and-true route. She is Peter Griffin's abusive sister and a wrestler who performs under the name of "Heavy Flo". The Merv Griffin Show was parodied on Second City Television, with Griffin played by Rick Moranis. [25] After Paar left The Tonight Show, but before Johnny Carson took over (Carson was still hosting Who Do You Trust? Merv Griffin was reportedly gay, and his sexuality was a well-known secret in Hollywood. A perfect example lies in an episode from September 1965 which featured the zany comedian Phyllis Diller followed by an interview with Capt. He said, "I'm a quarter-sexual. He resolved to change his appearance and lost 80 pounds in four months. and Wheel remain on the air today. This led to the creation of "The Eva Gabor Show. 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. Karen Griffin is the main antagonist of the Family Guy episode "Peter's Sister". It's the same tune that persists to . Robert Plant's Wife: Maureen Wilson Is the Only Woman the Legendary Singer Was Married To, Brendan Fraser's 2 Handsome Sons Hug Him after His Ex Was Awarded $900K in Alimony & Child Support, The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The guests on the Westinghouse show were an eclectic mix of entertainers, authors, politicians, and "personality" performers like Zsa Zsa Gabor. Four U.S. Presidents -- Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan appeared, as did Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Jonas Salk and Robert F. Kennedy. Merv Griffin created two of the most popular game shows in the history of television: Jeopardy! Griffin upgraded the properties and turned them into game-show tryouts to attract customers before selling them to Sun International Company in 1993. 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When theorizing why Griffin may have felt the need to keep his sexual identity hidden, game show producer Bob Stewart made the following assumption: "He could have been honest without repercussions [because] he wasn't a leading man or sex symbol. She was survived by her mother, sisters, and two stepdaughters, Mary Jamison and Joanne Hunt. It's not uncommon for queer celebrities, especially those from times past, to get married as a means of hiding their sexual orientation. By early 1972, sensing that his time at CBS was ending, and tired of the restrictions imposed by the network, Griffin secretly signed a contract with Metromedia and its production arm, Metromedia Producers Corporation (MPC) to continue his program in syndication as soon as CBS canceled Griffin's show. Griffin was married to the former Julann Wright from 1958 to 1976; they remained friends after their divorce. Griffin himself was an enthusiastic meditator.[27]. However, his father disapproved of his career choice and convinced Griffin to take a job as a bank teller. The Amazing Johnathan left the show after 65 episodes because of a contract dispute, and it was scrapped before it was nationally syndicated. Merv Griffin invites a series of actors, actresses, writers, and directors to discuss the progressive work they have done and current culture, arts, and entertainment surrounding the numerous projects. When he was fired a few months later, his new show began the following Monday, and ran until the mid-1980s. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Why not do a switch, and give the answers to the contestant and let them come up with the question. As it was, I loved the guy, finding him charismatic and charming. Metromedia also gave Griffin prime time clearances on the company's group of independent stations, which included outlets in New York, Los Angeles, MinneapolisSaint Paul and Washington, D.C. Beginning in 1981, The Merv Griffin Show was cut back to one hour in order to accommodate stations who preferred that length over the 90-minute version. The suit that Plott filed was based on the grounds of him not only being Griffin's "lover" who he promised "solace and emotional support" but also for the fact that Plott claimed to have been a business consultant of Griffin's and stated that he helped the TV mogul select Vanna White for "Wheel of Fortune." Karen Griffith, now one of "Wheel's" two supervising producers, worked on the show with Griffin before it was syndicated, when it aired daytimes with Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford as hosts. Griffin also booked controversial guests like George Carlin, Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, Norman Mailer and Bertrand Russell. Although Tony said his father was bigger than life, he was also a very private man who appreciated simple things. Shortly after he became an "Atlantic City casino magnate," at the pinnacle of his career, Griffin was charged with a palimony suit in April 1991. [2] He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway. After Griffin's death, The Hollywood Reporter published a report stating that he had been a closeted gay man. | Photo: Getty Images. [20] When they had their first child, Cynthia Leigh Buzzell, on September 11, 1955, Griffin was named her godfather. They divorced in 1976 after 17 years of marriage. Griffin would invite Reagan over to his hotel for dinner to celebrate, and he also introduced her to Astrologer Joan Quigley. Merv Griffin attends Gala Honoring Merv Griffin's 2,000 Show on October 26, 1979 at Lincoln Center in New York City. The public is still unclear on whether or not what Wright and Griffin shared was, in fact, "real" love. 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. The late Merv Griffin was many things businessman, talk show host, singer, entertainer, game show creator. Nonetheless, the elephant that was his sexual orientation never really stopped following Griffin from room to room. The series ran on NBC from October 1, 1962,[1] to March 29, 1963; in first-run syndication from May 10, 1965, to July 4, 1969; at 11:30p.m. As Fox was already setting up its own late-night talk show, The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, the former Metromedia stations dropped the show soon thereafter. The new show featured live music with two singers while simulating a trip to various places in the world. Lovella was born on September 15 1931, in Byers, Clay, Texas, United States. It gained traction in 1991 when he was targeted in a pair of lawsuits: by Dance Fever host Denny Terrio, alleging sexual harassment; and by assistant Brent Plott, seeking $200 million in palimony. Meg discovers that she treats Peter the same way that he treats her. The Merv Griffin Show S6. Until his death, Griffin sought identity coverage from Wright and Gabor. As a child, he would organize shows and recruit other kids to be his actors, stagehands, and audience, and they would have so much fun. It's all about change for me. According to Griffin, they were driven apart by their inability to agree on the house they would live in and which staff Eva would bring with her. One regular attendee, Lillian Miller, became a fixture on the show throughout its run. As a result, Griffin would do his best to keep his life private, but his staff and workers reported to know about his secret identity: "Around the office, Merv's being gay was understood but rarely discussed. The background to this was on November 12, when Resorts reached a tentative agreement with certain bondholders, several bondholders petitioned the United States Bankruptcy Court in Camden, New Jersey, to put the company into involuntary bankruptcy to protect legal claims they might have against Trump, the real estate investor Griffin outbid for Resorts the prior year. Griffin sold his empire to The Coca-Cola Company for $250million in 1986, then went on a buying spree of hotels, so that his wealth in 2003 was said to be around $1.2billion.[40]. His last game show was a wild show called Ruckus, which emanated from the Resorts International Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, which he owned at the time. Why is it so difficult to write? Most frequently tossed softballs that sometimes led to guests batting back answers into unexpected territory. "[43], Griffin was a constant companion of actress Eva Gabor from the mid-1980s until her death in 1995, though she told the press in 1990 that they had never been lovers.[44]. The movie claims that all guests of the show receive an autographed photo of Griffin, coupons, and Turtle Wax. [3] Selected edited episodes, distributed by Paul Brownstein Productions, are airing on the GetTV channel.[4]. The spin-offs included the children's shows Wheel 2000 (CBS, 1997), and the short-lived Jep! Griffin did his best to shy away from disclosing his sexuality on numerous occasions. Despite having a remarkable career based on his charisma and charm, the authentic Griffin was never able to make an appearance. She declared marriage was too interesting an experiment to be tried only once or twice. Griffin was not shy about tackling controversial subjects, especially the Vietnam War. Mitsuo Fuchida, the Japanese navy officer who planned and led the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 a truly unique moment in television history. Wes Anderson Directing Star Wars? }, First published on August 13, 2007 / 9:29 AM. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! | Photo: Getty Images. In his book Merv, written with David Bender in 2003, he stated that it would be "Stay Tuned".). (Metromedia had briefly syndicated the original Jeopardy! ", Merv Griffin at the Childhelp USA "Drive the Dream Gala" in Arizona 2005 | Source: Getty Images. The Merv Griffin Show: With Merv Griffin, Mort Lindsey, Mort Lindsey Orchestra, Arthur Treacher. | Photo: Getty Images. The performance is considered one of Houstons best and her introduction to the music world. It was these games which inspired him to create the game show Wheel of Fortune in 1975. Jack was born on October 17 1929, in Clay county TX. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Griffin was born July 6, 1925, in San Mateo, California, to Mervyn Edward Griffin Sr., a stockbroker, and Rita Elizabeth Griffin (ne Robinson),[3] a homemaker. Griffin dismissed Plott's claims, chalking it up to the fact that Plott was only trying to extort him by lying: "This is a shameless attempt to extort money from me. Round, which became the iconic melody of the theme for the syndicated version of the show hosted by Alex Trebek in 1984. And Mervs brush with tabloid scandal no doubt only drove him further into the closet. In thirty years, he was able to build the Merv Griffin Enterprises empire that was home to an array of the best game shows on television, including the classic favorite "Wheel of Fortune." Honors event along with his widow Julann. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Merv Griffin, the former talk-show host who became a Hollywood billionaire by investing in real estate and creating the popular game shows "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. [12], Griffin became increasingly popular with nightclub audiences, and his fame soared among the general public with his 1950 hit "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts". Part of the deal was that Trump would buy Resorts' interest in the yet-to-be-constructed Taj Mahal project for $273million, and that Trump would own Resorts International Air, which included three Sikorsky S-61 helicopters. Griffin always avoided questions about his sexuality and would joke about it most of the time. E19 All episodes Cast & crew IMDbPro All topics David Soul and Karen Soul, Milt Kamen, Maxine Greene, Morty Gunty, Ruth McFadden, the Earl of Litchfield Episode aired Sep 26, 1968 TV-PG YOUR RATING Rate Comedy Family Music Add a plot in your language Stars Merv Griffin Karen Carlson Frank Gallop Griffin created and produced the successful television game show Jeopardy! According to an obituary on August 24, 2007, in Entertainment Weekly, The Merv Griffin Show ran for 21 years and won 11 Emmy Awards. At 72, onetime crooner Merv Griffin has parlayed the $250 million sale of his game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune in 1986 into a billion-dollar empire that encompasses two production. NBC-owned and -operated stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas carried it, with many stations airing two episodes per day. Peter challenges her to a female wrestling match where she is close to beating him, when Meg appears and whacks her with a chair, resulting in a serious injury and coma. Pallbearers included Griffin Group vice-chairman Ron Ward, President Robert Pritchard, and Vice President Michael Eyre, as well as Tony Griffin. The two powerhouses spun off numerous programs, for which Griffin often signed on as a creative consultant. Merv Griffin was an entertainment industry giant. 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. A.I. The show became a phenomenon when, on September 19, 1983, a nighttime version hit the syndication market with Pat Sajak and Vanna White as host and hostess. for ABC), Griffin was one of the many guest hosts who presided over Tonight in the interim. He owned a ranch near La Quinta, California where he raised thoroughbred racehorses, and St. Clerans Manor, a boutique hotel in an eighteenth-century estate once owned by director John Huston, near Craughwell, in County Galway, Ireland. Profits from his highly successful game shows made Griffin one of the world's wealthiest entertainers. He was also gay, writes RAY RICHMOND, who wonders what sort of impact it might hav On May 14, 2003, Griffin was honored with the Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) President's Award at its annual Film and Television Awards ceremony, for creating some of America's best-known game show melodies.[28]. The second show aired as a standalone special in some regions such as Canada. We knew nothing of his relationships because he guarded his privacy fiercely, and we didn't pry.". She fired a couple of answers to me: '5,280' and the question of course was how many feet in a mile. Nonetheless, Griffin remained "close friends" with the Gabor family, and Zsa Zsa described him as a "wonderful, wonderful man. Before her death, Eva was the chairman of Eva Gabor International, the world's largest wig maker. Acknowledged as one of the premier talk shows in the history of television, The Merv Griffin Show ran daily for some 25 years from October 1962 to September 1986. [52] He was buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, where his epitaph reads "I will not be right back after this message". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "Milestones of Motoring (1954)" sponsored by Standard Oil of Ohio, Hagley Library Digital Archive. marathon consisted of a rerun of the Jeopardy! "[42] He was otherwise secretive about his business and personal lives. He also produced Let's Play Post Office for NBC in 1965, Reach for the Stars for NBC in 1967, and One in a Million for ABC in 1967. [17][20] Griffin needed a place to stay and moved-in with Buzzell as his new roommate. [35] He had used $325 million in junk bond financing at nearly 14% from Drexel Burnham Lambert's Michael Milken, but suspended interest payments in early 1989. Additionally, the sources reported witnessing Griffin on a cozy date in a dimly lit restaurant with another man, where the two were very clearly flirting. Griffin did not get the part, but the screen test led to supporting roles in other musical films such as So This Is Love (also 1953),[14] which caused a minor controversy when Griffin shared an open-mouthed kiss with Kathryn Grayson. No lifetime achievement award was presented in 2020 and 2021. These deals came with heavy debt, and the companies had to declare bankruptcy in 1989. Everyone that knows him, he's the Energizer Bunny. The couple started hanging out as friends before proceeding to wed in May 1958. He bought his contract back from Warner Bros. and decided to devote his attention to a new medium: television. His Los Angeles Times obituary repeated a 1991 statement he had made regarding Plott's lawsuit: "This is a shameless attempt to extort money from me. Merv Griffin AKA Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. Born: 6-Jul - 1925 Birthplace: San Mateo, CA Died: 12-Aug - 2007 Location of death: Los Angeles, CA Cause of death: Cancer - Prostate Remains: Buried, Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles, CA Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Bisexual [1] Occupation: Talk Show Host, Business Nonetheless, Griffin's legacy is long remembered by his family, who celebrated his life to the fullest at his funeral in 2007. ", Merv Griffin posing for a portrait in Los Angeles 1985 | Source: Getty Images. Many continue to speculate whether their marriage was used to deflect rumors that the TV production mogul was gay. He attended San Mateo Junior College and then the University of San Francisco. Seeing his strong ratings, CBS offered him a network series opposite the powerhouse Tonight Show, and his program moved there in the fall of 1969, with his debut guest lineup consisting of Hedy Lamarr, Ted Sorensen, Leslie Uggams, Moms Mabley, and Woody Allen. The show, originally titled What's the Question?, premiered on NBC on March 30, 1964, hosted by Art Fleming, and ran for 11 years. However, it was reported that their relationship was strictly platonic. Cowan even went so far as to say that he would be "surprised" if Eva and Griffin got married. In 1965, Griffin launched a syndicated talk show for Group W (Westinghouse Broadcasting) titled The Merv Griffin Show. 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. School Bus Driver Passes Out 13-Year-Old Boy Grabs the Wheel of Bus Packed with 60 Kids, Tobe Nwigwe's Wife Fat Nwigwe Gave Birth to the Rapper's Four Kids, Doting Dad Macaulay Culkin Looks 'Healthy' Hand-In-Hand with Fiance after Welcoming Baby No.2, Melissa Sue Andersons Kids Whom She Did Not Want to Raise the Way Michael Landon Raised His Daughter, Rock Hudson & Jim Nabors Never Spoke Again after They Were Reportedly Seen Getting Married, Ryan ONeals Son Griffins Life Was Ruined by Familys Mess Yet He Helped Struggling Half-Brother Get Better. A screenshot of Merv Griffin from an expos video about the secret life he led posted in 2023 | Source: Youtube/Facts Verse. Griffin's sexual history and sexual orientation only got fully disclosed after the "Jeopardy!" All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. It has been alleged that legendary TV producer and the game show host of "The Merv Griffin Show," Merv Griffin led a "secret gay life" while he was alive. Merv Griffin Entertainment was under presidency of his son, Tony Griffin. They Were Wrong", "Griffin Wins Resorts in Deal with Trump", "Helicopter Service Shuttles Gamblers to Casinos", "Merv Griffin Becomes New Owner of Resorts International", "Merv Rolls the Dice: Griffin and his debt-ridden Resorts International hotel and casino face tough odds in upcoming meetings with bondholders", "Merv Griffin's Resorts Files for Bankruptcy as Refinancing Fails", "In the Chatting Olympics, Look for Merv Griffin", "Affable TV host built an empire on 2 hit game shows", "All About Eva: Zsa Zsa's Little Sister Says It Hasn't Always Been Easy Being the Other Gabor", "Griffin Never Revealed Man Behind the Curtain", "The 'Jeopardy' Creator: Who Was Merv Griffin? Trending News [41] In an interview with The New York Times published on May 26, 2005, Griffin recalled a quip he frequently used when asked about his private life: "I tell everybody that I'm a quarter-sexual. Griffin later claimed in interviews that he was best man at their wedding, but was in fact one of the four ushers. But Merv Griffin pioneered the concept and the original show debuted in 1964, running until 1975. Griffin produced the show's successor, Wheel of Fortune, which premiered January 6, 1975, with host Chuck Woolery and hostess Susan Stafford and had high ratings throughout its network run. Eva Gabor (in red) along with the stars of the 1986 TV series "Bridges To Cross." Paul had already signed Grove for the show and was looking for a male co-host. In 1974, Griffin was inducted to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also loved music, so he wrote the theme songs to all his shows. They would later become friends for 55 years, until Griffin's death in 2007. Using the company of his longtime friend Gabor, Griffin avoided being asked directly about his sexuality; however, he remained known as a "closeted gay talk show host." Griffin wrote the 30-second piece of music heard during the show's Final Jeopardy! were produced: one on NBC that ran for five months in late 1978/early 1979, with Art Fleming returning as host; and the other airing in first-run syndication beginning September 10, 1984, starring Alex Trebek. The song reached the #1 spot on the Hit Parade and sold three million copies.[13]. Her most notable movie role came when she played Lisa Douglas on the sitcom "Green Acres" alongside Actor Eddie Albert. (VH1, 1998) for pop-music trivia fans; Click!, a teen-oriented game that introduced Ryan Seacrest as its host; and, in association with Wink Martindale, Headline Chasers (1985). He was a singer, actor and longtime host of "The Merv Griffin Show." He created "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune," but to his only child, Tony Griffin, he was just dad. The Hollywood star was admitted to the hospital on June 21 after breaking her hip from a fall while traveling. Griffin's 12-year-old granddaughter Farah gave a reading. [5] The family was Irish American. Growing up, his aunt tutored him in the skill, which he preferred to sports. King World Productions (now CBS Media Ventures) took over syndication of the program in 1984; King World was Griffin's syndication partner for Wheel of Fortune and was about to relaunch his other game show Jeopardy! Karen Sue Griffin, 1952 - 2015. It was then that Merv, who loved puzzles, came up with the idea for a show called "Jeopardy!" The Wheel marathon included two episodes with cameo appearances by Griffin: Sajak's departure from the daytime version in 1989 and a 199293 episode that ended with Griffin, his band "The MervTones," and White singing at a dinner club in Orlando, Florida. His charges are ridiculous and untrue.". "You know, this is a guy who's never been sick in his life and just got hit," Tony told The Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen. and Wheel of Fortune. Maybe that helps explain why Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. In 1976, Wright and Griffin divorced but remained lifelong friends until Griffin's passing on August 12, 2007. It ran for one summer. Tony remembers his. [2] As of February 2014, 1,800 episodes, spanning over 2,000 hours of footage, have been located and preserved for future generations. Wheel barely escaped cancellation in 1980, when NBC replaced three of its other game shows with a daytime talk show starring David Letterman. Terrio's suit alleged: "Commencing in 1978 and continuing through the parties' business relationship, the Defendant, Merv Griffin, made ongoing explicit homosexual advances towards [Terrio]. Who is Karen Griffin on Wheel of Fortune? Mansfield had remembered Griffin from his singing in the Grace Moore picture So This Is Love, and for his hit song "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts." NBC finally cancelled it in 1989, when CBS picked it up for a year (only to return to NBC, when the daytime version was finally cancelled permanently in 1991). Griffin's lawyer denied the claims, and the Los Angeles federal court threw the case out in June 1992. At the time, it was the largest sale of an entertainment company owned by a single individual, and Forbes pronounced Griffin history's richest Hollywood performer. Those who dont cant really be faulted, as rarely do honesty and full disclosure prove a boon to ones showbiz livelihood. He had an older sister named Barbara. My philosophy is that you have to constantly be turning the page, which prevents me from getting caught up in any negativity. Im not at all insinuating that Griffin had a responsibility to come out. | Photo: Getty Images, She and her sisters soon became celebrities in the 1950s, with their pictures appearing in various magazines. (GSN, 1998, both for children); Rock & Roll Jeopardy! during the weekend of August 1819, 2007. For many years, Griffin was seen in the company of "Green Acres" actress Eva Gabor. The sisters were also famous for their love lives; Eva married and divorced four times. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? Eva migrated to the United States after she met and married a Swedish-born Hollywood physician in 1939. [17][20][21] After the wedding, and about two months after arriving in the city, Griffin moved into a different apartment, but in the same building, and remained lifelong friends with Buzzell and Simms. They divorced in 1973 because of "irreconcilable differences." "It was a pivotal. That year, Brent Plott, a longtime employee who worked as a bodyguard, horse trainer, and driver, filed a $200million palimony lawsuit, which was also dismissed. That turned into "Wheel of Fortune," Tony said. Merv Griffin | Merv Griffin and Gary Stevens | Source: Getty Images. category. Merv Griffin and Eva Gabor at the 20th Annual Scopus Awards in 1990 | Source: Getty Images, On another separate occasion, American film director Matt Tyrnauer mentioned that Scotty Bowers had confirmed Griffin's sexuality in a conversation the two men had had in previous years. When political activist Abbie Hoffman was Griffin's guest in April 1970, CBS blurred the video of Hoffman so viewers at home would not see his trademark American flag pattern shirt, even though other guests had worn the same shirt in the past, uncensored, and Pat Boone appeared in an automobile commercial on that very broadcast wearing a similar flag-motif shirt. The pair went out on regular dates that were said to be strictly "platonic" up until she died in 1995. ", Eva Gabor applying on make-up before shooting a scene. I've never pretended to be someone I wasn't. 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. [15] He also had an uncredited role as a radio announcer in the horror/science fiction film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953). As a result, this literally wiped out or greatly reduced the investments of the bondholders, so that Mr. Griffin could sue Trump and yet still retain a significant portion for himself. Merv Griffin at the 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in California 1986 | Source: Getty Images. Hungarian actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor with her family at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, October 01, 1958. The American TV star and business mogul died of prostate cancer in 2007 at the age of 82. The case was dismissed with prejudice in November 1991 by Los Angeles Superior Court judge Diane Wayne, who also granted monetary sanctions of $2,000 against Plott.
