Wink Martindale, Iconic ‘Tic-Tac-Dough’ Game Show Host, Dies at 91

This revision removes redundancy, uses concise language, and adheres to standard headline structure by highlighting his name, role, and age.

Legendary Game Show Host Wink Martindale Dies at 91

Wink Martindale, the charismatic host of iconic game shows like Tic-Tac-Dough, High Rollers, and Gambit, passed away at 91 on Tuesday at his California home. Surrounded by family, including his wife of 49 years, Sandra, his death marks the end of a seven-decade entertainment career that began in radio and made him a household name.

[IMAGE: Martindale in 2019, caption: Wink Martindale at a 2019 event in Rancho Mirage, California.]

Born Winston Conrad Martindale in Jackson, Tennessee, he started as a radio DJ in Memphis, where he played a pivotal role in broadcasting Elvis Presley’s music for the first time. Working at WHBQ in the 1950s, Martindale recalled Presley’s nervous visit to the station: “Dewey [Phillips, a fellow DJ] put him in front of a microphone and started talking to him. Elvis became my friend until the day he died,” he shared in a 2018 interview.

[IMAGE: Martindale hosting Tic-Tac-Dough in 1972, caption: Martindale helmed the beloved game show from 1978–1985.]

Martindale’s transition to TV included hosting Teenage Dance Party, featuring a young Elvis in 1956, and launching game shows like What’s This Song? (1964–1965). His charm and rapport with contestants made him a staple of 1970s–80s game shows, including Gambit and Trivial Pursuit. “I love working with people,” he once said. “You see why one person succeeds over another during a game.”

Beyond hosting, Martindale produced shows like Headline Chasers and championed charities, hosting telethons for Cerebral Palsy and St. Jude Children’s Hospital. His accolades included a 2006 Hollywood Walk of Fame star and a 2024 Beale Street Note in Memphis.

[IMAGE: Martindale with wife Sandra in 2012, caption: Wink and Sandra Martindale at an event in 2012.]

Tributes poured in posthumously, including a floral memorial at his Walk of Fame star. Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce praised his legacy, while the University of Memphis honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Award.

Martindale is survived by Sandra, three daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his Chihuahua, Dude. His enduring impact on TV and radio cements his status as a pioneer of American entertainment.

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