Fox News Digital confirmed that legendary game show host Wink Martindale has passed away. He was 91 years old.
Surrounded by his family, including his wife Sandra, Martindale had a 74-year career in Hollywood at the time of his death, hosting numerous game shows such as “Tic-Tac-Dough,” “High Rollers,” and “Gambit.” Martindale was also a Elvis Presley’s best friend.
In 2019, Martindale told Fox News Digital that he “met Elvis Presley on a hot July night in 1954.”
Gameshow host Wink Martindale has passed away. He was 91 years old. (Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
What surprised him most about Presley was that he was the giftee.
“Leah, few people knew they had given literally millions of dollars to charities around the world, not just in this country,” Martindale said.
“He was a great gifter. If he was your friend, he would have been your friend until the day you died.
Sandra, the wife of 49-year-old Martindale, dated Presley on and off in 1967 just before marrying Priscilla.
Sandra, who married Wink in 1975, praised Presley for her marriage to a game show host.
Surrounded by his family, including his wife Sandra, Martindale spent a 74-year career in Hollywood at the time of his death, hosting numerous game shows. (ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images/Photos from Disney’s General Entertainment Content)
“Elvis is responsible for marrying Wink,” she said in a 2015 interview. Hollywood Reporter.
“when [Martindale] He said he was from Tennessee, I said, “He must be a nice guy,” I loved the nation, I loved everyone, I loved everything about Tennessee because Elvis was a great part of my life. ”
Martindale spoke in 2014 ABC News About the meaning behind his interesting name.
“When I was a kid in Jackson, Tennessee, one of my playmates, Jimmy McCord, couldn’t be called my name, Winston. He had a speech obstacle and sounded like “winkey.” So Winston became Winky, then I went into business and it helped me,” he said.
