• Wink Martindale, famed game show host, dies at 91 after battling lymphoma.
• He hosted iconic shows like "Gambit" and "Tic-Tac-Dough."
• Martindale conducted one of Elvis Presley's first televised interviews in 1956.
• He made significant contributions to radio before becoming a game show host.
• Martindale was known for his engaging style and dynamic interactions with contestants.

Wink Martindale, the genial host who brought charm to game shows like "Gambit" and "Tic-Tac-Dough," has died at the age of 91. According to his publicist Brian Mayes, Martindale passed away on Tuesday at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, California, after a year-long battle with lymphoma. He had reportedly been in good spirits until a few weeks prior to his death, as Mayes described his condition in a statement from Nashville.

Martindale rose to fame when "Gambit" debuted on September 4, 1972, alongside "The Price is Right" and "The Joker's Wild." The game show quickly became popular, with Martindale noting that it taught him a fundamental principle for successful game shows: "Keep It Simple Stupid." He once reflected in his memoir "Winking at Life" about the game's simplicity, comparing it to the childhood card game Old Maids. For over two years, "Gambit" dominated the ratings before the rise of "Wheel of Fortune" led to its cancellation in 1976.

Martindale made a significant comeback in 1978 with "Tic-Tac-Dough," a show that ran until 1985. During his tenure, he presided over the record-breaking winning streak of Navy Lt. Thom McKee, who won over $300,000 in cash and prizes, including eight cars and 16 vacations. Martindale often expressed his passion for the interactions with contestants, stating, "I love working with contestants, interacting with the audience and to a degree, watching lives change."

Before his game show career, Martindale was a successful radio DJ, a background he credited for his ability to ad-lib and handle various situations spontaneously. He began his career as a disc jockey at the age of 17 and had a long-cutting-edge career that included numerous radio stations and shows. Over his career, he hosted nearly two dozen game shows, which contributed to his reputation as a leading figure in television entertainment.

Martindale's notable career also includes one of the first television interviews with a young Elvis Presley in 1956. He arranged the interview through fellow DJ Dewey Phillips, who had provided Presley an early break in his career. The two maintained a friendship that included a trans-Atlantic telephone interview in 1959 while Presley was serving in the Army. Martindale's personal connection with Presley deepened when his second wife briefly dated the iconic singer.

Throughout his life, Martindale also pursued music; he achieved a Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1959 with a spoken word version of "Deck of Cards." He became a recognizable face on television, hosting numerous shows over the following decades, including "Debt" on Lifetime and "Instant Recall" on GSN. His enduring influence in entertainment was recognized beyond game shows, as he continued to work in radio, hosting "The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time" in 2012 and "The History of Rock 'n' Roll" in 2021.

He is survived by his second wife, Sandy, and his children, Lisa, Madelyn, and Laura, along with numerous grandchildren. Martindale was predeceased by his son, Wink Jr., from his first marriage, which ended in divorce in 1972. His legacy as a beloved game show host and a vibrant part of television history will be cherished by many.