TV Legend Merv Griffin Dead At 82

TV pioneer Merv Griffin has died at the age of 82,

According to a statement from his family, Griffin died of prostate cancer.

The man who created syndicated shows like “Jeopardy,” “Wheel Of Fortune,” and “Dance Fever,” Merv Griffin continued to work almost up until the day he died.

“This is actually going into my tombstone – ‘I will not be right back after this message,’” the silver haired legend once told Access Hollywood.

Griffin was a man who always looked for new ways to make television interesting for the viewers.

“All my life, I have been in television, sixty years, everybody says, ‘Oh, if it’s not broke, don’t touch it’ and I would say, ‘Even if its not broke, fix it anyway. Keep changing. Keep finding new elements that are exciting.’”

It was an ironic statement considering it was Merv’s talk show, “The Merv Griffin Show,” which ran for an incredible 24 years that paved the way for others. Phil Donahue, then Oprah and now Ellen.

During the show’s amazing run, Merv sat across the couch from dozens of up and comers who became A-list stars. Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Denzel Washington and Arnold Schwarznegger all passed through his show’s doors.

Later in life, Merv went from TV mogul to hotel mogul, buying up and restoring properties around the world. In 1999, he gave Access a tour of the famous, glitzy, Beverly Hilton Hotel.

“I like to see a hotel where it’s located, what’s around it, what does it look like and now how can I change it to return it too what it was or to a new audience . . . without a fear in my heart,” he said.

Audiences also got the pleasure of Merv, the music star. Yes, the TV legend was once a successful crooner. Griffin’s novelty song with Freddy Martin – “I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts,” went to number one in 1950, selling over 3 million copies.

Merv Griffin’s life was full of success, stories and in our final interview with the entrepreneurial powerhouse in 2006, he shared with us his biggest achievement.

“Waking up this morning, waking up any morning – it’s all been fun to me,” he said.