Mervyn Edward “Merv” Griffin, Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American television host, singer, and media mogul behind Merv Griffin Enterprises. He was best known for hosting the Goodson/Todman classic, Play Your Hunch, and for creating the two long-running hit series, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. Griffin was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died on August 12, 2007. Today his company (now called The Griffin Group) is run by executives who worked for Merv for decades prior to his death.