Fox News Digital confirmed that Legendary Game Show host Wink Martindale is dead. He is 91 years old.
Martindale was surrounded by family, including his wife, Sandra, who worked in Hollywood for 74 years at the time of his death, hosting many game shows such as “Tic-Tac Dough”, “High Rollers” and “Gambit.” So is Martindale Elvis Presley’s close friend.
In 2019, Martindale told Fox News Digital that he “met Elvis Presley on the evening of July 1954.”
Game show host Wink Martindale has passed away. He is 91 years old. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
To his surprise, Presley was the gift giver.
“Seldom know that he has donated millions of dollars to charities not only in this country but around the world,” Martindale said.
“He is a great gift giver. If he was your friend, he was your friend until the day you passed away. I mean he will always be your friend and do whatever he needs to do for you. He is such a person.”
Martindale’s 49-year-old wife Sandra dated Presley before marrying Priscilla in 1967.
Sandra got married in 1975 and he attributed his marriage to Presley for his game show host.
Martindale was surrounded by family, including his wife, Sandra, who worked in Hollywood for 74 years at the time of his death, hosting many competitions. (By Getty Image Photography Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content)
“Elvis is responsible for me to marry the wink,” she said in a 2015 interview. Hollywood Reporter.
“when [Martindale] I said he was from Tennessee and I said, “He must be a good guy,” because I love the country, I love everyone, I love everything in Tennessee because Elvis is a wonderful part of my life. ”
Martindale had a conversation back in 2014 ABC News About the meaning behind his interesting name.
“When I was in Jackson, Tennessee, one of my playmates, Jimmy McCord, couldn’t say ‘Winston’, it was my name. His speech barrier, sounded like ‘Winky.’. So Winston became Winky and I got into the business, which was great for me,” he said at the time.
