Wink Martindale

Wink Martindale was born on December 4, 1933 in Jackson, Tennessee, USA as Winston Conrad Martindale.

Before he was a successful game show host and producer, he was a disc jockey on KFWB radio in Los Angeles, California, in the 1950s.

Attended and graduated from North Side High School in Jackson, Tennessee (1951).

As a singer, he began his career with Dot Records in 1956.

Received his Bachelor of Science degree from Memphis State College in Memphis, Tennessee (1957).

The only game show he did not like was Dream Girl of '67 (1966).

Met fellow game show hosts Bob Barker and Jim Lange, while working in the Chuck Barris Studios, in Los Angeles, California, prior to becoming a game show host in 1967. The other host in the same studio was Bob Eubanks.

Worked with game show announcer Johnny Gilbert on three game shows: Words and Music (1970), The New Tic Tac Dough (1978) and Headline Chasers (1985).

Has the distinction of hosting two longest-running game shows in television history for almost 35 years, one in front of Alex Trebek, the other behind Bob Barker: Las Vegas Gambit (1972) for five seasons on CBS daytime, and The New Tic Tac Dough (1978), for seven of eight seasons on syndication.

He was not Merrill Heatter's first choice as host of the revamped version of The New High Rollers (1974) in 1987. It was when fellow game show host Alex Trebek was under contract hosting the immensely-popular game show Jeopardy! (1984), he was unable to do it, hence, the job was given to Martindale.

Met fellow game show host, Geoff Edwards, when the two were working at KMPC Radio in Los Angeles, California, prior to becoming a successful game show host in 1975. Among the staff were Gary Owens, Dick Whittinghill, Robert W. Morgan and Sonny Melendrez.

Wink and his wife did not attend the funeral of his longtime friend Elvis Presley when the singer died in 1977. They did not want to be a part of the circus like atmosphere surrounding the event. Instead, they visited Graceland a week later and paid their respects privately.

Former The New Tic Tac Dough (1978) producer, Dan Enright asked him to host the pilot of a show that did not sell, after Headline Chasers (1985) ended.

Executive Producer of Wink Martindale Enterprises from 1985 to 1993.

He is an actor and producer, known for Second Honeymoon (1987), The Lively Set (1964) and Bumper Stumpers (1987).

When Tic Tac Dough (1990) was revived for a third time in 1990, he understood Patrick Wayne, who watched tapes of Martindale's episodes for weeks before he succeeded him as the host.

Had a long-standing friendly feud with Chuck Woolery and Gene Rayburn. Upon Rayburn's death late in 1999, he admitted that both Rayburn and Woolery were responsible for his potty-humored nicknamed of "Stink Fartindale," and would always fondly remember their times together.

An interview with him published in Globe magazine places him hosting a radio show from his home in Calabasas, California. [April 2005]

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on June 2, 2006.

GSN honored him as the Most Versatile Host in 2007.