TV Icon Wink Martindale Dies – Fans Remember His Legendary Career

Legendary game show host Wink Martindale dies

Wink Martindale, a radio and television personality who was known to audiences as the host of classic game programs such as “Tic-Tac-Dough” and “Gambit,” has passed away.

There is something about his allure.

At a time when so many people in the United States were growing up, Wink Martindale was more than simply a well-known face on television; he was a voice that brought them comfort, excitement, and joy.

The excitement of watching Tic-Tac-Dough, the fun of Headline Chasers, and the high-energy, fast-paced entertainment of High Rollers are all things that people still remember.

Gambit, on the other hand, hit in a different way. That show was the one that people remembered for a very long time.

There was something about Wink’s charisma and the way he brought the game to life that made it feel like he was welcoming you into something special. It was as if he was providing you with a personal experience.

The 4th of December, 1933 found Winston Conrad Martindale being born in the city of Jackson, Tennessee.

He began his career in broadcasting at a young age, working as a disc jockey at WPLI in his hometown when he was only 17 years old. He earned $25 a week in that position.

During an interview with ABC News in 2014, he reflected on the origin of his well-known nickname, saying, “When I was a kid in Jackson, Tennessee, one of my playmates, Jimmy McCord, couldn’t say ‘Winston,’ which is my given name, and he had a speech impediment, and it came out sounding like ‘Winky.'” At that point, Winston transformed into Winky, and after that, I entered the business world and Wink!

The early stages of Martindale’s career consisted of more than merely spinning songs. Mars Patrol, a children’s show airing on WHBQ-TV with a science fiction theme, was where he made his debut on television.

However, it was obvious from the very beginning that Wink was destined for a career in show business, whether it be in front of the camera or behind the microphone.

It was in 1972 when he was given the opportunity to become the host of a brand-new game show on CBS called Gambit. This was his first major break. Martindale continued to serve as the show’s emcee for a period of four years since the show was a huge success.

His relationship with Elvis Presley, as revealed by him

Before he became a game show icon, Wink found himself in the middle of rock ‘n’ roll history. It all began with his close friend Elvis Presley, who was the one who introduced him to the world of live music.

Martindale was conducting a tour of the WHBQ radio studio in Memphis on the evening of July 10, 1954. The tour was being given to a group of friends.

At that moment, he became aware of something peculiar: the phone lines were lighting up like crazy during the 9 o’clock show that his colleague Dewey Phillips was hosting. What is the reason?

A brand new song, “That’s All Right,” which was Elvis Presley’s very first record, was producing a lot of buzz at the time.

At Sun Studio, the song had been recorded by producer Sam Phillips, who had no relation to Dewey. The recording had taken place just five days previously.

When Sam had delivered the record to WHBQ on July 6, it had already begun to make a significant impact on listeners by the time July 10 rolled around. There was just one problem, however, and that was that nobody could locate Elvis. Dewey wanted to conduct an interview with him on the air immediately.

Therefore, Wink decided to take up the phone and make a call to the Presley family. Gladys, Elvis’ mother, responded and stated that her son had gone to a movie in order to calm down since he was so anxious about how the song would be received by the audience.

In response to Wink’s encouragement, she brought him down to the studio, and she did so.

Dewey sat Elvis down for an interview after he arrived with his parents. Elvis was pleased to be there. What is the most enjoyable aspect?

Even Elvis was unaware that he was broadcasting live on the radio. After some time had passed, Wink would recollect that Elvis had stated that he probably would not have been able to speak if he had known because of how shy he was back then.

This achievement was not merely a footnote in the annals of music history; rather, it was the moment that contributed to Elvis Presley’s rise to fame. And Wink Martindale was present to see it all unfold before her eyes.

The incident that took him by surprise in relation to Elvis

The generosity of his lifelong buddy Elvis Presley was the thing that genuinely struck out to Wink Martindale about Elvis Presley. It wasn’t simply the celebrity or the music that he was famous for.

According to a statement made by Martindale in the past, “the thing that surprised him the most about Presley was that Presley was a giver.”

As he said, “Very few people knew that he gave away literally millions and millions of dollars to charitable organizations not only in this country but all over the world.” He was referring to international charitable organizations.

In the years leading up to Wink’s marriage to Martindale in 1975, Sandra, Wink’s wife, had a sporadic relationship with Elvis Presley. This relationship occurred right before Elvis Presley wed Priscilla in 1967.

Sandra expressed her gratitude to the King for guiding her to the person she would spend the rest of her life with, which was a surprising turn of events.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, she disclosed this information in an interview that took place in 2015. “Elvis is responsible for me marrying Wink,” she said.

As soon as [Martindale] mentioned that he was from Tennessee, I thought to myself, ‘He must be a wonderful guy,’ since I had a deep affection for the place. Every single one of the guys was my favorite. Due to the fact that Elvis was such a beautiful part of my life, I liked everything that was there in the state of Tennessee.

Wink Martindale’s reason for passing away

Throughout his later years, Wink continued to be involved in the entertainment industry of his day. His hosting of the nationally and globally syndicated radio show The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll, which was a two-hour weekend program that looked back on the music of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, was one of the projects that he completed as part of his career. As of that moment, Martindale had reached the age of 88.

On April 15, 2025, the extraordinary life of Wink Martindale was tragically cut short; she passed away. He was 91 years old when he passed away at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, due to cancer. Martindale left behind a legacy that lasted an astonishing 74 years in the entertainment industry inside the entertainment industry. He was surrounded by his family, especially his cherished wife Sandra.

His children Lisa, Lyn, and Laura, as well as his grandkids and great-grandchildren, his “honorary” son Eric, and his beloved Chihuahua, Dude, are among those who are able to carry on his legacy.

The legacy of Wink Martindale as a game show host is not solely determined by the games he hosted; rather, it is defined by the memories he formed and the happiness he brought into the lives of a great number of people.

The fact that he was a buddy and a constant presence that made you feel like you were a part of the show made him more than just a host. The mark that Wink left on the history of television will remain in our hearts forever, even though the episodes may no longer be on the air. Goodbye!