Who Died Today for $500, Alex

[Cherbunny]

Entertainer, businessman Griffin dies

By BOB THOMAS, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Merv Griffin, the big band-era crooner turned impresario who parlayed his "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune" game shows into a multimillion-dollar empire, died Sunday. He was 82.
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Griffin died of prostate cancer, according to a statement from his family that was released by Marcia Newberger, spokeswoman for The Griffin Group/Merv Griffin Entertainment.

Source

[Chicago Jake]

He died exactly one year and one day after fellow talk-show host Mike Douglas.

[Ardbeg... innit]

[Chicago Jake]

Weird Al's tribute....

[Cherbunny]

Well, well, well.

Tomorrow is Merv Griffin's funeral service, however, the news media just had to report this:

Merv Griffin died a closeted homosexual

By Ray Richmond 48 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Merv Griffin was gay.

Why should that be so uncomfortable to read? Why is it so difficult to write? Why are we still so jittery even about raising the issue in purportedly liberal-minded Hollywood, in 2007?

Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. Perhaps he figured it was preferable to remain the object of gossip rather than live openly as "one of them."

But how tremendously sad it is that a man of Merv's renown, of his gregarious nature and social dexterity, would feel compelled to endure such a stealthy double life even as the gay community's clout, and its levels of acceptance and equality, rose steadily from the ashes of ignorance.

What a powerful message Griffin might have sent had he squired his male companions around town rather than Eva Gabor, his longtime good friend and platonic public pal. Imagine the amount of good Merv could have done as a well-respected, hugely successful, beloved and uncloseted gay man in embodying a positive image.

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