As he recalls the past, Donahue stands again and begins to pace. Sensing that his time at CBS was ending, and tired of the network's restrictions, Griffin secretly signed a contract with rival company Metromedia that gave him a syndicated daytime talk show deal as soon as CBS canceled their show. In 1974, under intense pressure to "put some glitter in the show," he moved to Chicago, hoping to attract better guests and big-city flair. Day arranged for a screen test at the Warner Bros. Studios for a role in By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953). [citation needed], Griffin started as a singer on radio at age 19, appearing on San Francisco Sketchbook, a nationally syndicated program based at KFRC. From that moment, "Donahue" became an audience-participation program. ", Joel Swerdlow; Joel Swerdlow is the coauthor of "Remote Control: Television. The star complained at the time that no one asked men if they wanted to be fathers of doctors, and she felt women's choices shouldn't be that linear either because she wanted it all. Donahue asked her on the air. I said, I just don't believe it's for me.". His abilities as a pianist played a part in his early entry into show business. Maybe you know about Merv Griffin very well But do you know how old was he at the time of his death and what is his net worth in 2023? Im thinking perhaps the Times editors really took it to heart when many of us criticized them after Susan Sontags death and the obituary cover-up of her sexual orientation and her relationship with Annie Liebovitz. And yet, it is very important for reasons far beyond visibility or mere gossip. ", Questions invariably come with the standard Donahue prefixes: "I don't want to be maudlin about this" or "It's hard to make this point without sounding a little patronizing." In 1991, Deney Terrio, host of the Griffin-created Dance Fever, sued Griffin, alleging sexual harassment, but the suit was dismissed. The actress said, "It was a very big thing for me to see that marriage could be a roomy enough place for my dream and his dream.". His mother, Rita Elizabeth Griffin, was a homemaker and father, Mervyn Edward Griffin; Sr. was an insurance broker. Phil Donahue was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and it was his childhood goal to be a "good broadcaster." She explained how she'd tried to portray a first for television - a young girl who wasn't thinking about marriage and instead about who she could be in the world. Eva Gabor and Merv Griffin were in a relationship for 10 years before Eva Gabor died aged 76.. About. Wednesday brought an obstetrician, and on Thursday he climbed into a coffin as he interviewed a mortician. Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue during the Iris Awards Banquet on March 4, 1978, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images. According to an obituary on August 24, 2007 in Entertainment Weekly, The Merv Griffin Show ran for 21 years and won eleven Emmy Awards. Merv Griffin spent decades as a beloved talk-show host but the gay game-show mogul was also a pioneer in Hollywood sexual-harassment cases! In 2007, Griffin's production company, Merv Griffin Entertainment, began production on a new syndicated game show, Merv Griffin's Crosswords (originally titled Let's Play Crosswords and Let's Do Crosswords). "That's not going to happen," he explains. Subsequently, Sony Pictures Entertainment purchased Columbia and he retains the title of executive producer of both "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" The couple had one son. Donahue feels his success has given other talk shows "more courage" and that the public will soon see fewer entertainers talking about "how long it took to make their last movie." 24K views, 950 likes, 99 loves, 117 comments, 155 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Marlo Thomas: #TBT to this scene from That Girl. In 2022, Marlo Thomas turned 85, and the other milestone she reached was celebrating 42 years of marriage after her husband, Phil Donahue changed her mind about marriage. Aug 16, 2020 - Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas on their wedding day . Public response wasn't always entirely pleasant, but continued commercial success gave Donahue confidence. [6], Griffin and First Lady Nancy Reagan exchanged birthday greetings each July 6 for their shared birthday. When guests verge on breakdowns or exhibitionism, Donahue becomes a combination parish priest and understanding neighbor. Though dismissed, the lawsuits put Griffin on the spot, and while he never denied being gay, he didnt own it either. From 1958 to 1962, Griffin hosted Play Your Hunch, a game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. You know, men and women, and 'he doesn't kiss me anymore.'". [46] He was a longtime member of the Republican Party.[47]. Marlo Thomas . In the business world, he was identified as the visionary chairman of The Griffin Group.Born in the San Francisco, California suburb of San Mateo, Griffin "came up through the ranks" in the classic sense, entering talent contests, writing songs, singing on local radio station KFRC-San Francisco, and later touring with Freddy Martin Orchestra. He was also close friends with Actress and former First Lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan, with who he shares the same birthdate, July 6. . [7], During World War II, Griffin was declared 4F after failing several military physical examinations due to a slight heart murmur. [15] He also had an uncredited role as a radio announcer in the horror/science fiction film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953). "Let's put a ribbon on this," he tells the long-winded. Then he continued his higher education at the University of San Francisco. So he returned to his radio roots and focused on marriage, illness, sexuality, death and other problems "ordinary" people could discuss. . But how tremendously sad it is that a man of Mervs renown, of his gregarious nature and social dexterity, would feel compelled to endure such a stealthy double life even as the gay communitys clout, and its levels of acceptance and equality, rose steadily from the ashes of ignorance. His roommate a year and a half was Montgomery Clift. Merv Griffin was a singer and band leader, movie actor, television personality and media mogul who in his time hosting The Merv Griffin Show (1962) was second in fame and influence as a talk show host only to Johnny Carson. "We had a woman whose baby was taken back by the adoption agency. Around that time, Griffin composed the show's best-known theme song, "Changing Keys", which was used in several variants of the show until 2000. Instead, she became a friend of the four boys', and when she got to know them and vice versa, they trusted her and accepted her in their lives. This man was intimate with the Reagans (and Nancy Reagan in particular) during the height of the AIDS epidemic in 80s, with few treatments available and fear-mongering having gripped the media. Also: speculation. Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas on their wedding day . If youre Griffin, why would you think a judgmental culture would be any more tolerant as you grew into middle and old age? Merv died aged 82, so would've been 96 today. Merv Griffin began his career as a singer on the radio at the age of 19. There was one major difference, though. was merv griffin married to marlo thomas. The book also reveals that Merv slept with Rebel Without a Cause heartthrob James Dean, film legend Montgomery Clift and Kennedy in-law Peter Lawford. Brent Plott, who had been his employee, also accused him of harassment. Also, he founded two TV production organizations Merv Griffin Entertainment and Merv Griffin Enterprises. . His funeral was held at the Church of Good Shepherd in Beverley Hills which was attended by several celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Klugman and Catherine Oxenberg. It's a shame. He also hosted a primetime ABC game show, Keep Talking. in 1964. Marlo Thomas, 2018 | Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas, 2022 | Source: Instagram.com/marlothomas | Getty Images. He attended San Mateo High School from where he graduated in 1942. "When half of America is saying, 'That guest got him,' believe me when I tell you it's fine with me." The "That Girl" actress first met Marlo when she was on his talk show as a guest in 1977. A typical example is the cancellation of a Masters and Johnson broadcast in Medford, Ore., because they "tantalized the audience by talking about homosexuality. He had an older sister, Barbara. Griffin disliked the censorship imposed by CBS and complained. His first crush was Errol Flynn, whom he saw passed out naked on a couch. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He said that he did not know his actual worth because it "would keep me from sleeping at night". [29], In 1988, he purchased Resorts International and two of their hotels, one in Atlantic City, New Jersey; and another on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, from Donald Trump and other investors. The star said they connected "fantastically," but their first date was awkward, with them staring at each other! He was stuck in southwestern Ohio, where his Dayton journalistic high points included the moment in 1960 when he asked Pat Nixon if she were proud of her husband and spat in her eye on the "p.". He died on August 12, 2007. However, Griffin stated that both the lawsuits were extortions. Danny said the female audience was lucky to spend an hour with "two of the world's most attractive men." This show was initially aired on NBC. (1980) Francie Shaffer. Meanwhile, his body is working fulltime. 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. In a December 1977 article, the actress recalled how Phil was a modern man and a single parent when they met. COPYRIGHT 2020 By TheLifeandTimesofHollywood.com, Stories From The Life and Times of Hollywood. He was Lifetime Honorary Festival Chairman of La Quinta Arts Festival and recently donated his Wickenburg Inn and Dude Ranch to Childhelp USA.In March 2001, the Gold Label released his new CD, "It's Like a Dream", for which he composed the title song. Over the years, it made a record of winning 33 Emmy Awards. The "Sunday Morning" thought being independent and single had become the star's brand. Donahue says that as an adolescent he considered "dates always an occasion for sin." They moan, gasp and applaud, and surround him with a chorus of questions and arguments. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. He feels akin to a large corporation. After three years of marriage, they got married on May 21, 1980. Similarly, he says he "showcases," rather than presents, issues and people. Brent Plott, who had been his employee, also accused him of harassment. It became the first US Album to be recorded on a magnetic tape. After Griffin's death, The Hollywood Reporter published a report stating that he had been a closeted gay man. To a dying 18-year-old he says, "That's a real punch in the nose. They had a deep conversation about divorce, marriage, and children; they were both Catholic. Griffin's approach to television talk was influenced by two New York shows, David Susskind's The David Susskind Show (1958) and Mike Wallace's Probe and Night Beat (1956), and like Susskind and Wallace, he openly embraced controversial subjects. Six years later they had five children, two born in the same year. The competition is tough -- young, energetic hosts are constantly clawing for national access, and even the long-popular Mike Douglas was recently canceled. And for good reason: "In an attempt to be honest you pay a price," he said -- afraid that his popular image may self-destruct in the confessional heat of his first book, "Donahue: My Own Story. "[43], Griffin was a constant companion of actress Eva Gabor from the mid-1980s until her death in 1995, though she told the press in 1990 that they had never been lovers.[44]. His first encounter, a boyhood friend he grew up with, later tried writing a book about Merv. . He was overweight as an adolescent and a young man, which disappointed some radio fans when they saw him in person. Not one to shy away from controversy, Griffin began to be harassed by CBS censors who objected to the antiwar statements of his guests and ordered him to feature pro-war guests for balance. The Famous Psychologist's Wife Has Never Missed a Taping, Julia Roberts Is Living Her Dream with Kids & Spouse of 20 Years at Rustic Ranch after Becoming Mom at 39, Dr Phil & His Wife of 46 Years Are Still in Love in $29.5M Home after They Sold Their 'Weird' Mansion, Geena Davis Became Mom of 3 at 48 Her 20-Year Marriage Ended & Much Younger Spouse Asked For Spousal Support, Jenna Bush Hager 'Smooched' Husband on 1st Meeting & Proposed to Him Later They've Made It to 14 Years. Griffin and Grove were brought together by Byron Paul, producer of U.S.A. Canteen, and Irving Mansfield, Summer Holiday's creator. My wife Julann just came up with the idea one day when we were in a plane bringing us back to New York from Duluth. It lasted only one season, with its last episode on May 16, 2008, but has had reruns on various channels. He married Juliann Wright in 1958, and they divorced in 1973. He doesn't just talk to the audience. Winner of 15 Emmy Awards, Griffin was presented an Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show Emmy for 1993-1994 as executive producer of Jeopardy! Though hed quietly led a gay life and had his pool parties filled with hot young men in years past, as well as a parade of boyfriends that was viewed as private information that was not discussed in mixed company. Why should that be so uncomfortable to read? The star had spent decades covering up his sexuality and even married comedienne Julann Wright, who gave him a son. 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. All through his lifespan, he was renowned as an entertainment business mogul. He attended San Mateo Junior College and then the University of San Francisco. She noted how no one wanted to be a stepmother cause they were seen as villains in children's stories. We can tell that you loved your daughter." In a way, his show has been therapeutic for Donahue, who believes his personal life mirrors the problems discussed on TV: "The light's started to go on in me. and Wheel remain on the air today. A talk show host for nearly 25 . Griffin dedicated two shows, in 1975 and 1977, to Transcendental Meditation and its founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Aug. 12, 2007 -- Merv Griffin, who parlayed a talent for talk and entertainment into a one-man business conglomerate, died of cancer early this morning. All through his childhood, he turned out to be a brilliant pianist who became the main reason for his adoption of show business. GSN dedicated a whole weekend in order to credit him by releasing 10-episode marathons of Wheel and Jeopardy. Every comedian ends up, one day, taking a pie in the face. He became a substitute host for Jack Paar on The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar (1957) and scored some of the highest ratings in the show's history. He often received criticism for booking such guests. He gained massive popularity with Ive Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts, which was a big hit in 1950. Griffin, as a radio announcer, played an unacknowledged part in the 1953 science/horror short story classic The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. In 1969 "Donahue" (until 1974 called "The Phil Donahue Show") entered national syndication, but half a decade later his salesman quit because the show was stuck at around 40 markets and "just couldn't sell." They Were Wrong", "Griffin Wins Resorts in Deal with Trump", "Helicopter Service Shuttles Gamblers to Casinos", "Merv Griffin Becomes New Owner of Resorts International", "Merv Rolls the Dice: Griffin and his debt-ridden Resorts International hotel and casino face tough odds in upcoming meetings with bondholders", "Merv Griffin's Resorts Files for Bankruptcy as Refinancing Fails", "In the Chatting Olympics, Look for Merv Griffin", "Affable TV host built an empire on 2 hit game shows", "All About Eva: Zsa Zsa's Little Sister Says It Hasn't Always Been Easy Being the Other Gabor", "Griffin Never Revealed Man Behind the Curtain", "The 'Jeopardy' Creator: Who Was Merv Griffin? Aside from his game shows, he also ventured into real estate and purchased the Beverley Hilton Hotel and later the Resorts International. Griffin wrote the 30-second piece of music heard during the show's Final Jeopardy! lagunitas hop water; matt beleskey retired; was merv griffin married to marlo thomas; June 22, 2022 . Nonetheless, the elephant that was his sexual orientation never really stopped following Griffin from room to room. Griffin was best known for creating the two most popular game shows in television syndication history, Wheel of Fortune (1983) and Jeopardy! The actress continued explaining her reasoning: "It seems like it's only a place for one-and-a-half persons, you know, the person that has the dream and the other person who supports the dream." To Donahue, danger comes not from sponsors or subscribing stations, but from his own instincts for self-preservation. Aren't you?" Merv Griffin, the creator of Jeopardy! One of Merv Griffins most important works was his talk show The Merv Griffin Show. At the time of Merv's death, his net worth was estimated at more than $1 billion. In 1975 Donahue set up housekeeping in suburban Chicago, and the women's magazines dubbed him "Bachelor-Father." "You've got to be hungry and ambitious," he says, explaining how he caters to his 85-percent-female audience: "Behavior issues are very big for us. Being born on 6 July 1925, Merv Griffin was 82 years old at the time of his death. I had interviewed many gay men whod known Griffin as gay, as well as men who told stories about how his closet had him doing horrendous things and how he was threatened by openly gay people. As of March 2023, Griffin has an estimated net worth of $1 billion. [17][20][21] After the wedding, and about two months after arriving in the city, Griffin moved into a different apartment, but in the same building, and remained lifelong friends with Buzzell and Simms. November 25, 1926 - February 24, 2023. (His book reports that in 1978, 56 percent of his programs featured guests with something to sell.) And I began to examine why, listen to some of the shrinks and people who do our show. He then did orchestra for four years after getting selected by Freddy Martin. LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Merv Griffin was gay. She explained how she felt a union of two whole people could work compared to one of one and a half. His last game show was a wild show called Ruckus, which emanated from the Resorts International Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, which he owned at the time. Mervs secret gay life was widely known throughout showbiz culture, if not the wider America. Even though Marlo had never intended to marry, she once admitted that it was "awful" being away from her husband. It received good ratings and featured several guests such as Ted Sorensen, Woody Allen, George Carlin, Norman Mailer, and Bertrand Russell. Issues that provoke censorship are almost always sexual. The result is staccato silence between phrases -- quite unlike his fast-moving, loquacious television image. Griffin's prostate cancer, treated originally in 1996, returned and he was admitted to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where his condition deteriorated, leading to his death on August 12, 2007 at the age of 82. Among his private passions are his family, son Tony Griffin, daughter-in-law Tricia, and grandchildren Farah and Donovan Mervyn, his long-haired sharpei dog Charlie Chan, his La Quinta ranch near Carmel, where he raises thoroughbred racing horses, and his 135 foot, four-story high ocean going yacht, Griff. Griffin was introduced to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1974. Merv was looking at notes for a new game show, and Julann asked if it was one of the knowledge-based games she liked. (1964). (GSN, 1998, both for children); Rock & Roll Jeopardy! Merv Griffin accomplished a lot and is, in his death, being held up as a example of a stellar Hollywood businessman. and Wheel of Fortune, is remembered as a television pioneer for his role developing the game show format. The audience is small and compact, practically sitting in the guest's lap. Griffin was born July 6, 1925, in San Mateo, California, to Mervyn Edward Griffin Sr., a stockbroker, and Rita Elizabeth Griffin (ne Robinson),[3] a homemaker. He also filled in for a week for the vacationing Bill Cullen on The Price Is Right, and for Bud Collyer on To Tell the Truth. It ran on all three networks, but primarily NBC. National magazines ran complimentary stories. And there was a young James Dean selling his sex for cash. . To a tearful father whose teenaged daughter died he says, "You must know that she wants you to be happy. The well-attended service included Nancy Reagan; Arnold Schwarzenegger, who gave the eulogy with Tony Griffin; Maria Shriver; and various actors, television stars, employees, and friends, including Pat Sajak, Vanna White, Alex Trebek, Dick Van Dyke, Jack Klugman, Dick Van Patten, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Ryan Seacrest, Johnny Mathis, Catherine Oxenberg and Casper Van Dien. "It's not important to me when we are on that I win. I loved the idea, went straight to NBC with the idea, and they bought it without even looking at a pilot show. His funeral was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. So it doesnt matter if he calls James Dean a glorified prostitute, or Griffin a pimp. Donahue's worst programs are with a Norman Mailer or a Ted Kennedy. The "Sunday Morning" interviewer wanted to know where Marlo got the idea. Even though they divorced, they continued being good friends. From December 1975 to January 1976, it was expanded to an hour, in response to the successful 60-minute version of The Price Is Right on CBS. A relationship that should be renewed and examined can't grow as long as we're not telling our women how we feel. [16] He decided to spend the summer of 1954 in New York City. (He revealed the epitaph on The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder. He also got enrolled at San Mateo Junior College and subsequently the University of San Francisco. It stood at the 2nd position on TV Guides list of the 60 greatest game shows ever. And yet, because he was closeted it is highly unlikely he ever made the connection for the Reagans (between himself and those who were suffering and dying), pointed out the government negligence, or even talked openly as a gay person. The former home of Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas in Westport, Conn., is going on the market for $28 million. Helen was married to Lionel G. Turner for 67 years. . He had short grey hair and brown eyes, his height was 5ft 9ins (1.75m) and he weighed around 175lbs (80kgs). He gave hog prices on the radio at 5:30 a.m., and his hand appeared twice on film used on the CBS Evening News. They had one son, Tony Griffin, born in 1959; who had two children of his own. That year, Brent Plott, a longtime employee who worked as a bodyguard, horse trainer and driver, filed a $200million palimony lawsuit, which was also dismissed. Griffin was also an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in 2004, having been the Reagans' friends for many years. He married his college sweetheart in 1958, right after graduation. [2] He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway. "Not everybody who writes a book is necessarily a good television persona. Besides Resorts International, the holding company for casinos in Atlantic City and the Bahamas, three company affiliates also filed for Chapter 11 protection: Griffin Resorts Inc., Resorts International Financing Inc. and Griffin Resorts Holding Inc. An active desert resident, Griffin was a supporter of the La Quinta Arts Festival and the owner of the Merv Griffin Givenchy Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, now The Parker. Type. It gained traction in 1991 when he was targeted in a pair of lawsuits: by Dance Fever host Denny Terrio, alleging sexual harassment; and by assistant Brent Plott seeking $200 million in palimony. Merv Griffin, talk show host and game show creator, is shown on his talk show 'The Merv Griffin Show' which aired from 1962-1986 in this undated publicity photograph. ", "Controversy is not a dirty word," he says. Griffin was a well-known TV personality who died on 12 August 2007 due to prostate cancer. Merv Griffin was a singer and band leader, movie actor, television personality and media mogul who in his time hosting The Merv Griffin Show (1962) was second in fame and influence as a talk show host only to Johnny Carson. He also created the still running game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Ironically, weeks after being on Phil's show, Marlo was a regular guest at his Winnetka, Illinois home, where he raised four sons. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/merv-griffin-10911.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century American Film & Theater Personalities. He could duck it for a while, but it would always find him. Later that year, CBS terminated Griffin's late-night talk show and Griffin immediately made the transition to Metromedia's syndicated network.While Griffin may have been a washout in late night television (and he had LOTS of company - EVERYONE who went up against Carson lost the ratings race, and Johnny always came out the victor), Griffin's impact on daytime was immense, specifically through his production of game shows. [20] Buzzell died of a heart attack in 1959, but Griffin stayed close to Simms for the rest of her life and had her as a guest on his talk show many times.[22][23][24]. [11] In 1947, he had a 15-minute Monday-to-Friday singing program on KFRC in San Francisco. Merv Griffin was born on 6th July 1925 in San Francisco, California, to Mervyn Edward Griffin and Rita Elizabeth Griffin. The song reached the #1 spot on the Hit Parade and sold three million copies.[13]. That was Fibber and Mollie McGee's address. Griffin created and produced the successful television game show Jeopardy! While it would seem everything has changed today, little actually has. A staff of 15, mostly women, decides what gets on the show. Produced in association with Program Partners and the William Morris Agency, it began airing September 10, 2007. ", Donahue said, "Thank you, Walter," and promptly fired off audition tapes and glossies. He rose as far as possible in Dayton -- anchoring the television news and hosting a radio call-in show. That was not only focused on in the Denny Terrio lawsuit against Griffin but also was something that several Hollywood gay men told me about, offering first hand experience, while I was researching Queer in America back in the early 90s and some of this (though, for legal reasons not all) is reported on in the book. But in a New York office recently, Donahue looked much more subdued that he does goes on television, his eyes more pale and penetrating. Of Griffin, Porter says, We met in 59 when he sang for my senior prom and the student committee paid him $500. His best years, he fears, may already be behind him: "The most creative, innovative ideas come from people with the least power and the least to lose." However, it returned years later and led to his death on 12th August 2007. As his family was Roman Catholic, he started signing in the church from an early age. She further elaborated, "I had to meet the right kind of man, and the world had to change a lot, and I had to change a lot." "What's important is the manner in which it is presented." Merv Griffin. By 1976 he'd been canceled three times in New York, the nation's top market, and sadly decided he'd "become a candidate for a trivia contest two decades hence.". The syndicated versions of both Jeopardy! Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. marathon consisted of a rerun of the Jeopardy! The actress's stance made sense as she was one of the leaders in the women's movement. [18][19], That summer, Griffin became acquainted with music publisher Loring Buzzell. He next hosted the game show Keep Talking and also temporarily The Price is Right and To Tell the Truth. Involving slapstick stunts and a somewhat truncated version of his old Reach for the Stars, it initially aired locally in New York, with the intent of national syndication early the following year. Two revivals of Jeopardy! And not everybody who's a good television persona necessarily knows what they're talking about.". Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. . Studying business administration at Notre Dame brought maturity and a desire to serve a city "with two airports." I keep it to his A-list dates like Rock Hudson, whom he met through Henry Wilson, Rocks agent, and who advised him to keep his sexuality quiet. In effect, Donahue has 200 bosses and they provide a fascinating study in what the public will tolerate -- even seek -- once outside the networks. She is most remembered for Lisa Douglas on Green Acres. Robert (Bob) Murphy, Griffin's best friend since sixth grade, was the producer of The Merv Griffin Show, and eventually became president of Merv Griffin Enterprises. Marlo shared how her dreams of becoming a mother were frustrated by her ambitions and society. In a December 1977 article, the actress recalled how Phil was a modern man and a single parent when they met. She returned to her native New Mexico, remarried and disappeared from public view -- until now, with publication of a "family" picture in Donahue's book.