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Wink Martindale, a beloved fixture on television as the host of game shows such as "Tic-Tac-Dough," died April 15 in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 91.
Mr. Martindale's death was confirmed by his publicist, Brian Mayes. He had been battling lymphoma, Mayes said.
Mr. Martindale was the host of the hit "Gambit" on CBS, which premiered in 1972 and was based on the card game blackjack. His later stint as the affable host of the trivia game "Tic-Tac-Dough" turned him into a mainstay on television.
Winston Conrad Martindale was born in Jackson, Tennessee, on Dec. 4, 1933, according to a news release provided by his publicist.
He first made a name for himself as a disc jockey in Jackson and, later, Memphis. In July 1954, during his time at a Memphis radio station, he crossed paths with a near-unknown Elvis Presley while trying to set up an interview with the station.
"It was his very first interview as a pro," Mr. Martindale told Fox News in 2019. "I met him that night, and he remained my friend until the day he died."
Mr. Martindale was also a successful recording artist. His rendition of the spoken-word song "Deck of Cards" sold more than 1 million copies in 1959, according to the news release.
Reflecting on his career, he once said radio was in his blood and that he enjoyed the immediacy the medium offered.
"They're right there for you and with you. A person can call up, request a song, and you can take it and put it right on the air. That's what I like about radio," he said in an interview with the Television Academy Foundation in 2017.
Mr. Martindale's first foray into television was as the host of the science-fiction-themed children's series "Mars Patrol" at a Memphis station, according to the news release. His first game show hosting job was on NBC's "What's This Song?" in 1964.
Other game show work followed before his popular run on "Tic-Tac-Dough," which was from 1978 to 1985, according to his IMDb page.
In the 2017 interview, Mr. Martindale recalled that while getting "Gambit" was a huge deal for him and set him on the path to success, his favorite show was "Tic-Tac-Dough."
"Anybody loves to have a success in this business, no matter whether you're an actor or a game show host. … And that was the most success I ever enjoyed doing one show," he said.
Other notable shows he hosted included "Headline Chasers," "Trivial Pursuit" and "Debt."
In 2006, Mr. Martindale received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his decades-long career in entertainment.
The name by which he is famously known came about when a childhood playmate could not pronounce his given name, Mr. Martindale told ABC News in 2014. "Winston turned into Winky, and then I got into the business and Wink [it was]! It served me well and I just kept Wink all these years."
He is survived by his wife, Sandra; daughters Lisa, Lyn and Laura; and an extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.