RANCHO MIRAGE – (INT) - Legendary TV game show host and Los Angeles radio personality Wink Martindale died Tuesday (April 15th). He was 91when he passed away at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage. A statement from his publicist indicated he’d battled lymphoma for a year.

Wink broke into radio at the age of 17 in Jackson, Tennessee. But, most of his air time was spent in Southern California as the morning man at KHJ, moving to KRLA and finally to KFWB in 1962. He also had lengthy stays at KGIL-AM, KKGO-FM/KJQI and Gene Autry's KMPC, KABC and KJQI. The influential disc jockey broke some of the biggest hits and artists of the 60’s and 70’s, spinning iconic songs for the very first time on his radio shows.

During a remarkable 74 year entertainment career, Martindale hosted the television game shows “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough”.

Wink also found gold record success as a recording artist. His rendition of the spoken-word song "Deck of Cards" went to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1959.

In 1985, Wink added the title of producer to his resume with the launch of the TV game show Headline Chasers, produced in association with Merv Griffin and syndication giant, King World.

Martindale is survived by his wife Sandra, sister Geraldine, daughters Lisa, Lyn and Laura, along with numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Story Date: April 16, 2025