Wink Martindale, the legendary game show host who made “Tic-Tac-Dough” and “Gambit” household names, has passed away at the age of 91. He died peacefully at home in Rancho Mirage, California, surrounded by his family and his wife of 49 years, Sandra Martindale.
If you’ve ever seen a game show with flashing lights, lucky contestants, and a host with a charming smile, chances are you were watching Wink do what he did best.
🎤 From Teen DJ to TV Star
Wink wasn’t always a big TV star. He actually got his start as a teen DJ in Jackson, Tennessee, at just 17 years old! But the real magic started when he moved to Memphis and worked at WHBQ radio.
Here’s a super cool story: One of Wink’s co-workers played Elvis Presley’s first song, That’s All Right, on the radio for the first time. Wink immediately called up Elvis’s mom and asked if Elvis could come to the station. And guess what? He did!
“He was so nervous about his record being played that he’d gone to the theater,” Wink remembered years later. “They found him sitting there by himself and brought him to the station.”
Wink met Elvis that night, and they stayed friends until Elvis passed away. Imagine being there for the start of rock and roll history!
🎲 King of Game Shows
After making waves on the radio, Wink headed to Los Angeles and slowly became a TV star. He hosted a fun sci-fi kids’ show called Mars Patrol and then a dance show where — get this — Elvis even stopped by again!
But Wink really became a household name when he started hosting game shows. First, it was What’s This Song?, then he lit up the screen on Words and Music, Gambit, and of course, Tic-Tac-Dough. That’s where he truly became a TV legend.
Wink didn’t just read questions. He connected with contestants and made every episode feel exciting. He said it best himself:
“I like people… and I love talking. I could sit here and talk all day.”
He also hosted shows like High Rollers, Debt, The Last Word, and Trivial Pursuit. He even created game shows behind the scenes!
🎶 More Than Just a Game Show Host
Wink was a man of many talents. Did you know he had a hit song? In 1959, his spoken-word track Deck of Cards hit No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard charts and No. 5 in the U.K. Over a million people bought it!
In later years, Wink made fun appearances on shows like The Bold and the Beautiful, The Chase, and even funny commercials for Orbitz and KFC.
He got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006 and was one of the first people ever honored in the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame. Last year, he was also celebrated on Beale Street in Memphis — where his story began.
🕯️ Goodbye, Wink — We’ll Miss You
Wink Martindale didn’t just make TV. He made people smile. Whether it was cheering on game show contestants, helping kids through charity work, or just being a friendly voice on the radio, he gave so much to the world.
Wink also helped raise money for Cerebral Palsy, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and more. He loved helping others just as much as he loved a good trivia question.
He is survived by his loving wife Sandra, his sister Geraldine, his daughters Lisa, Lyn, and Laura, a big family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his honorary son Eric — and even his sweet little Chihuahua, Dude.
Fans can say goodbye to Wink by visiting his star at 7018 Hollywood Blvd, where flowers are being placed in his honor.
Wink Martindale may be gone, but his laugh, charm, and timeless game shows will keep playing in our hearts forever.
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