The host of the game show Wink Martindale has passed away: details of his life and family
16 april 2025 в 20:13
Wink Martindale had all the love and support from his wife Sandra «Sandy» Martindale (nee Ferrara) throughout his television career. After decades in show business, the late 91-year-old game show host passed away in April 2025, presumably after battling lymphoma. He was surrounded by his family, according to various sources.
Learn about Martindale’s marriage to his wife and his ex-wife, as well as his children below.
Martindale was known for hosting several game shows from the 1970s to the 1990s. He was the face of «Gambit» from 1972 to 1976, as well as a second time from 1980 to 1981, «Tic-Tac-Dough» from 1978 to 1985, «High Rollers» in 1987 and 1988, and «Debt» from 1996 to 1998.
After leaving the game show genre, Martindale published his memoir «Winking at Life» in 2000. In the book, he openly talked about his development as a game show host and television personality.
«I enjoy working with contestants, interacting with the audience, and, to some extent, watching lives change», - he wrote in one excerpt. «Winning a large sum of money can cause such changes».
As Martindale was also a DJ, radio host, and television producer, he noted in his memoir that «it would be easy to think: 'Wow, this is easy! I come out here, go on the radio and television, record a song, and everyone wants to buy it!'»
«Even if I entertained such thoughts, they soon disappeared», - Martindale admitted, adding, «I eventually learned that something that happened to me was far from ordinary».
Martindale was previously married to his first wife Madeline Litch from 1954 to 1972. They had four children. Three years after divorcing Litch, Martindale married his second wife, Ferrara. They remained together until the end of his life.
Yes, Martindale left behind daughters Lisa, Madeline, and Laura. He was also the father of a son named Wink Jr., who passed away before the former «Gambit» host, according to NPR. His children were from Martindale’s first marriage to Litch.
The cause of death was not initially disclosed when news of Martindale’s passing became known. However, according to TMZ, Martindale died after battling lymphoma. His representative Brian Mayes said that Martindale had been fighting cancer for about a year, but «felt good» until «it got worse» two weeks before his death
Learn about Martindale’s marriage to his wife and his ex-wife, as well as his children below.
Martindale was known for hosting several game shows from the 1970s to the 1990s. He was the face of «Gambit» from 1972 to 1976, as well as a second time from 1980 to 1981, «Tic-Tac-Dough» from 1978 to 1985, «High Rollers» in 1987 and 1988, and «Debt» from 1996 to 1998.
After leaving the game show genre, Martindale published his memoir «Winking at Life» in 2000. In the book, he openly talked about his development as a game show host and television personality.
«I enjoy working with contestants, interacting with the audience, and, to some extent, watching lives change», - he wrote in one excerpt. «Winning a large sum of money can cause such changes».
As Martindale was also a DJ, radio host, and television producer, he noted in his memoir that «it would be easy to think: 'Wow, this is easy! I come out here, go on the radio and television, record a song, and everyone wants to buy it!'»
«Even if I entertained such thoughts, they soon disappeared», - Martindale admitted, adding, «I eventually learned that something that happened to me was far from ordinary».
Martindale was previously married to his first wife Madeline Litch from 1954 to 1972. They had four children. Three years after divorcing Litch, Martindale married his second wife, Ferrara. They remained together until the end of his life.
Yes, Martindale left behind daughters Lisa, Madeline, and Laura. He was also the father of a son named Wink Jr., who passed away before the former «Gambit» host, according to NPR. His children were from Martindale’s first marriage to Litch.
The cause of death was not initially disclosed when news of Martindale’s passing became known. However, according to TMZ, Martindale died after battling lymphoma. His representative Brian Mayes said that Martindale had been fighting cancer for about a year, but «felt good» until «it got worse» two weeks before his death
© Smirnova Olga
