Wink Martindale, host of recreation exhibits “Tic-Tac-Dough” and “Excessive Rollers,” dies at 91

Sport present host Wink Martindale, identified for “Tic-Tac-Dough,” “Excessive Rollers” and “Gambit,” has died, in keeping with his official Fb web page. He was 91.

“Wink was superb, humorous and gifted,” the publish on his Fb web page reads. “Actually a LEGEND!”

The host, born Winston Martindale, had a 74-year profession, in keeping with Nashville Publicity Group, which additionally confirmed Martindale’s demise. A explanation for demise was not given.

“Your complete Sport Present Community household mourns the lack of Wink Martindale, the host of the unique “Tic-Tac-Dough” and a real legend of tv recreation exhibits,” the Sport Present Community posted on social media. “His appeal and presence lit up the display screen for generations of viewers and he won’t ever be forgotten.”

Martindale’s skilled profession started when he was simply 17, in keeping with his Hollywood Stroll of Fame biography. The Jackson, Tennessee, man labored as a disc jockey for a number of years and even had his rendition of the spoken-word track “Deck Of Playing cards” chart on the Billboard Scorching 100.

His tv profession started at WHBQ-TV because the host of “Mars Patrol,” a science-fiction program for youths, in keeping with the Hollywood Stroll of Fame, which Martindale earned a star on in 2006.

Whereas at WHBQ-TV, Martindale started internet hosting “Teenage Dance Get together,” the place he was joined by Elvis Presley in a single look. The 2 had been long-time buddies; Presley dated Martindale’s spouse, Sandy, earlier than they married.

In 1964, Martindale landed a job internet hosting NBC’s “What’s This Track.” Different internet hosting credit embrace “Phrases and Music,” “Can You Cease This” and “Headline Chasers.” He hosted greater than a dozen recreation exhibits, in keeping with his 2000 autobiography.

He hosted “Tic-Tac-Dough” on CBS from 1978 till 1985, in keeping with IMDB. Martindale hosted 185 episodes of NBC’s “Excessive Rollers” between 1987 and 1988. His present “Gambit,” based mostly on blackjack, was produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions. 

“I keep in mind that they auditioned virtually each potential host. It got here right down to Dick Clark and me, and that is one time I beat Dick Clark,” Martindale instructed the Tv Academy Basis in 2018.

He additionally instructed the Tv Academy Basis that he favored getting to satisfy so many alternative folks whereas engaged on recreation exhibits.  

“I take pleasure in discovering out what makes folks tick,” he instructed the Tv Academy Basis. “As you play a recreation, you see why one particular person is extra profitable than one other. However I simply love working with folks, and I really like speaking.”

In recent times, Martindale made appearances on such packages as “Most Outrageous Sport Present Moments,” “The Chase” and “The Daring and the Stunning,” in keeping with his publicist. He additionally appeared in commercials for Orbitz and KFC.

Martindale is survived by his spouse, his daughters and his sister.