Game show host legend and friend of Elvis Presley Wink Martindale dies at 91

Winston "Wink" Martindale, an iconic game show host, died on Tuesday in Rancho Mirage, California, at the age of 91. 

Martindale was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, including his wife of 49 years Sandra Martindale, a spokesperson for the family told Deadline. No cause of death was given.

The former game show host was famous for hosting programs like "Tic-Tac-Dough," "High Rollers" and "Gambit." His career on television and radio spanned more than seven decades.

Martindale was also known for being a friend of Elvis Presley, who he met in 1954, according to Fox News. The game show host said the thing that surprised him most about Presley was how generous he was.

"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," Martindale told the outlet in 2019. "He was a great giver. If he was your friend, he was your friend until the day you died. I mean he would always be your friend and do anything for you that you needed him to do."

Martindale's wife also dated Presley before he married Priscilla Presley, and credited her marriage to Martindale to Elvis.

"Elvis is responsible for me marrying Wink," Sandra Martindale said in 2015. "When [Martindale] said he was from Tennessee, I said, ‘He must be a nice guy,’ because I loved the state, I loved all the guys, I loved everything in the state of Tennessee because Elvis was such a wonderful part of my life." 

Martindale is survived by his wife, daughters Lisa, Lyn and Laura, his sister Geraldine, and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.