TV host Wink Martindale, known for "Gambit" and "Tic-Tac-Dough," dies at 91

Wink Martindale, the legendary TV and radio host, has died at the age of 91, according to reports from The Hollywood Reporter and Los Angeles Times. Martindale was best known for hosting the popular game shows "Gambit" and "Tic-Tac-Dough," which solidified his place in American television history.

He passed away on Tuesday, surrounded by family in Rancho Mirage, California. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

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Wink Martindale’s early career

Winston Conrad Martindale, started as a DJ at WHBQ in Memphis, Tennessee. He later turned to television as a host of the children's sci-fi show Mars Patrol from 1953 to 1955.

As the show grew in popularity, he moved to NBC, where he hosted musical game shows like: What’s This Song? and Words and Music, before 1972, where he began hosting Gambit.

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Wink Martindale: a game show icon

Gambit was a blackjack-themed game show, which aired on CBS until 1976. However, he later emceed a Las Vegas spinoff on NBC from 1980-1981.

In 1978, he acted as a TV host for CBS' revival of Tic-Tac-Dough until 1985. While he has other credits as a TV host, both Gambit and Tic-Tac-Dough solidified his place as a TV icon.