Damon Charles: 1st List of Gay/Lesbian/Bi Actors and Industry People, Both in Front and Behind the Camera

Frankie James Grande was born Frank James Michael Grande-Marchione on January 24, 1983 in Manhattan, New York City, New York and raised in Englewood, New Jersey & Boca Raton, Florida to Joan Grande, a chief executive officer for Hose-McCann Communications & Victor Louis Marchione, a physician. He also attended Pine Crest School in Boca Raton. Frankie also graduated from Muhlenberg College in 2005 where he triple-majored in biology, theater and dance. Frankie is an American dancer, actor, singer, producer, television host, and YouTube personality. He performed on Broadway as Franz in the musical Rock of Ages (2014-2015) and in Mamma Mia! (2007-2010) and has played roles Off-Broadway, in regional theatre productions and on tour. Grande has produced Broadway shows and both produced and appeared in cabaret acts, including his own one-man show "Livin La Vida Grande". In 2014, Grande was a contestant on the US reality television series Big Brother 16. In 2015, Grande was a judge on the 8th season of America's Best Dance Crew. From 2016 to 2017, he co-hosted Style Code Live, a live Amazon fashion and shopping show that streamed on weeknights. He also competed in the UK reality show Celebrity Big Brother 18 in mid-2016. In 2017, Frankie guest-starred in a two-part episode of Nickelodeon's sitcom Henry Danger in the role of Frankini. He also appeared in the season finale of the Netflix television series Haters Back Off as a fictionalized version of himself. Frankie is openly gay.

L.Z. Granderson is known for Zebrahead (1992), Soul of a Nation (2021) and ABC News Live Reports (2020).

Farley Earle Granger was born in 1925 in San Jose, California, to Eva (Hopkins) and Farley Earle Granger, who owned an automobile dealership. Right out of high school, he was brought to the attention of movie producer Samuel Goldwyn, who cast him in a small role in The North Star (1943). He followed it up with a much bigger part in The Purple Heart (1944) and then joined the army. After his release he had to wait until Nicholas Ray cast him in the low-budget RKO classic They Live by Night (1948) with Cathy O'Donnell, and then he was recalled by Goldwyn, who signed him to a five-year contract. He then made Rope (1948) for Alfred Hitchcock and followed up for Goldwyn with Enchantment (1948) with David Niven, Evelyn Keyes and Teresa Wright. Other roles followed, including Roseanna McCoy (1949) with Joan Evans, Our Very Own (1950) with Ann Blyth and Side Street (1949), again with Cathy O'Donnell. He returned to Hitchcock for the best role of his career, as the socialite tennis champ embroiled in a murder plot by psychotic Robert Walker in Strangers on a Train (1951). He then appeared in O. Henry's Full House (1952) with Jeanne Crain, Hans Christian Andersen (1952) with Danny Kaye, The Story of Three Loves (1953) with Leslie Caron and Small Town Girl (1953) with Jane Powell. He went to Italy to make Senso (1954) for Luchino Visconti with Alida Valli, one of his best films. He did a Broadway play in 1955, "The Carefree Tree", and then returned to films in The Naked Street (1955) with Anthony Quinn and Anne Bancroft and The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955) with Joan Collins and Ray Milland. Over the next ten years Granger worked extensively on television and the stage, mainly in stock, and returned to films in Rogue's Gallery (1968) with Dennis Morgan. He then returned to Italy, where he made a series of films, including The Challengers (1970) with 'Anne Baxter (I)', The Man Called Noon (1973) with Richard Crenna and Arnold (1973) with Stella Stevens. More recent films include The Prowler (1981), Death Mask (1984), The Imagemaker (1986) and The Next Big Thing (2001). Since the 1950s he has continued to work frequently on American television and, in 1980, returned to Broadway and appeared in Ira Levin's successful play "Deathtrap". In 2007 he published his autobiography, "Include Me Out: My Life from Goldwyn to Broadway" with Robert Calhoun. A longtime resident of New York, Granger has recently appeared in several documentaries discussing Hollywood and, often, specifically Alfred Hitchcock.

Joshua Grannell was born on 7 January 1974 in Maryland, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015), All About Evil (2010) and Whatever Happened to Peaches Christ? (2004).

Once told by an interviewer, "Everybody would like to be Cary Grant", Grant is said to have replied, "So would I."

Cary Grant was born Archibald Alec Leach on January 18, 1904 in Horfield, Bristol, England, to Elsie Maria (Kingdon) and Elias James Leach, who worked in a factory. His early years in Bristol would have been an ordinary lower-middle-class childhood, except for one extraordinary event. At age nine, he came home from school one day and was told his mother had gone off to a seaside resort. However, the real truth was that she had been placed in a mental institution, where she would remain for years, and he was never told about it (he would not see his mother again until he was in his late 20s).

He left school at age 14, lying about his age and forging his father's signature on a letter to join Bob Pender's troupe of knockabout comedians. He learned pantomime as well as acrobatics as he toured with the Pender troupe in the English provinces, picked up a Cockney accent in the music halls in London, and then in July 1920, was one of the eight Pender boys selected to go to the United States. Their show on Broadway, "Good Times", ran for 456 performances, giving Grant time to acclimatize. He would stay in America. Mae West wanted Grant for She Done Him Wrong (1933) because she saw his combination of virility, sexuality and the aura and bearing of a gentleman. Grant was young enough to begin the new career of fatherhood when he stopped making movies at age 62.

One biographer said Grant was alienated by the new realism in the film industry. In the 1950s and early 1960s, he had invented a man-of-the-world persona and a style - "high comedy with polished words". In To Catch a Thief (1955), he and Grace Kelly were allowed to improvise some of the dialogue. They knew what the director, Alfred Hitchcock, wanted to do with a scene, they rehearsed it, put in some clever double entendres that got past the censors, and then the scene was filmed. His biggest box-office success was another Hitchcock 1950s film, North by Northwest (1959) made with Eva Marie Saint since Kelly was by that time Princess of Monaco.

Although Grant retired from the screen, he remained active. He accepted a position on the board of directors at Faberge. By all accounts this position was not honorary, as some had assumed. Grant regularly attended meetings and traveled internationally to support them. The position also permitted use of a private plane, which Grant could use to fly to see his daughter wherever her mother Dyan Cannon, was working. He later joined the boards of Hollywood Park, the Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle - Hollywood, California), Western Airlines (acquired by Delta Airlines in 1987) and MGM.

Grant expressed no interest in making a career comeback. He was in good health until almost the end of his life, when he suffered a mild stroke in October 1984. In his last years, he undertook tours of the United States in a one-man-show, "A Conversation with Cary Grant", in which he would show clips from his films and answer audience questions. On November 29, 1986, Cary Grant died at age 82 of a cerebral hemorrhage in Davenport, Iowa.

In 1999, the American Film Institute named Grant the second male star of Golden Age of Hollywood cinema (after Humphrey Bogart). Grant was known for comedic and dramatic roles; his best-known films include Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1940), His Girl Friday (1940), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), Notorious (1946), An Affair to Remember (1957), North by Northwest (1959) and Charade (1963).

David Marshall Grant was born on 21 June 1955 in Westport, Connecticut, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Air America (1990), The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and The Stepford Wives (2004). He has been married to K.C. Reischerl since 27 March 2009. They have one child.

Tyler Grasham died on 21 October 2022.

Mitch Grassi was born on 24 July 1992 in Arlington, Texas, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Grinch (2018), Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and Bones (2005).

The son of a surveyor, Charles Gray was born and raised in Queen's Park, Bournemouth. As a young actor, he received his vocal training from the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon and at the Old Vic, having long abandoned his first job as clerk for a real estate agent. His voice was to become one of his most valuable tools. In fact, from January 1966, he subtly, almost imperceptibly, dubbed for Jack Hawkins after this actor became unable to speak his lines due to throat cancer. In later years, Gray's trademark voice was regularly heard on television commercials.

Gray's theatrical debut came in 1952 in the part of Charles the Wrestler (he measured 6 foot, 1 inches in height) in "As You Like It", appearing under his original name, 'Donald Gray'. From 1956, as 'Charles' Gray (since there already was a one-armed actor named Donald Gray), he took to leading dramatic roles, and won critical plaudits as Achilles in "Troilus and Cressida", Macduff in "Macbeth" and as the gluttonous Sir Epicure Mammon in Tyrone Guthrie's up-dated version of "The Alchemist", in 1962. He repeated his Old Vic performance as Henry Bolingbroke for his Broadway debut at the Winter Garden Theatre in 1956. A notable later performance, while touring the U.S. and Canada, was as the Prince of Wales in Peter Stone's tale of the famous 19th century actor Edmund Kean ("Kean", 1961). In 1964, Gray won the Clarence Derwent Award as Best Supporting Actor for his part in the controversial play "Poor Bitos", by Jean Anouilh, co-starring Donald Pleasence. He was offered his first role on the big screen, reprising a success on the West End stage in 1958, as Captain Cyril Mavors,in the satirical musical Expresso Bongo (1959).

For the next forty years, heavy-set, silver-haired, jut-jawed Charles Gray used his imposing frame and mellifluous voice to great effect in creating for the screen a memorable gallery of egocentric, imperious toffs, and suave, sardonic super-villains. While his performances at times verged on the camp, Gray cheerfully allowed himself to be cast within his range of basically unsympathetic characters, which he could play well and with ease. He tended to favour television as his preferred medium, though some of his most popular roles were for the big screen. Among his niche of staple characters were the coldly pompous military heavies (General Gabler in The Night of the Generals (1967), or the perpetually sneering, overbearing upper-class twits (true-to-form, as defecting spy Hillary Vance in the Thriller (1973) episode "Night is the Time for Killing"). At his evil best, he was commanding as the demonic acolyte Mocata, in The Devil Rides Out (1968) and as the feline-stroking, velvety-voiced nemesis of James Bond, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, in Diamonds Are Forever (1971). He was also suitably sinister as Bates the Butler, one of the red herrings of Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd (1980).

Gray's recurring roles included Lord Seacroft (senior, as well as junior) in the short-lived satirical miniseries The Upper Crusts (1973) as a down-on-his-heels aristocrat, keeping up appearances after being forced to live in a high-rise housing estate; and as the sedentary brother of the famous sleuth at 221b Baker Street, Mycroft, in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976). Later, he was utilised as temporary replacement, first for Edward Hardwicke,and, subsequently, for the hospitalised star Jeremy Brett, in Granada Television's various instalments of the Sherlock Holmes saga (1985-1994). Gray died of cancer in March 2000, aged 71.

Mollee Gray was born as Mollee Shon Gray on May 15, 1991 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA but raised in Orem, Utah, USA. She is an American actress, singer, dancer, and gymnast. Mollee began formal studio dance training at The Dance Club in her hometown. At age 12, after attending an audition with film director Kenny Ortega, Gray booked a job dancing in the popular Disney movie High School Musical. Impressed by her talent, Ortega connected her with an agent. Due to the movie's success, she was given the opportunity to be a part of the two sequels that followed.

Gray returned to her Disney roots in the smash hit Teen Beach Movie, which premiered with over 14 million viewers and is the 2nd highest Disney comedy of all time. She played the fun, quirky, and lovable character named "Giggles," part of the classic beach party movie, Mack (Maia Mitchell) and Brady (Ross Lynch) get sucked into. She reprised her role in Teen Beach 2, which premiered on The Disney Channel. Teen Beach 2 debuted as cable's No.1 movie of 2015 to date, and stands as the No. 1 cable-TV telecast in nearly two years for Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14. According to The Huffington Post, the films have "the potential to rival the wildly successful High School Musical Trilogy."

Gray also played the lead character of Amanda in Double Daddy, a psychological thriller directed by Lee Friedlander. The TV movie tells the story of high school sweethearts Amanda (Gray) and Connor (Cameron Palatas), who are very much in love. When Amanda learns she's pregnant with Connor's child, her anger turns to heartbreak with the revelation that Connor has also impregnated another young girl - the scheming siren Heather who may be out to eliminate her romantic rival altogether, even before Amanda's baby is born. The film premiered on Lifetime. She has also appeared in the comedy series Free Period and #ThisIsCollege, the tv movie A Night to Regret, and The Goldbergs.

Gray starred in the lead in the indie film South 32, playing the role of Courtney, a young and impressionable college student who faces harassment and hazing during sorority. Gray has proven herself to be a triple threat, having further made her mark on the big screen with her memorable role as "Sari" in No Strings Attached, opposite Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. More recently, she had leading roles in the films The Reliant and inspirational true story The Favorite.

In addition to her work in film and tv, the multi-talented actress is a veteran of the popular competition show, So You Think You Can Dance. After accompanying a friend to what she thought would only be a taping, Gray soon found herself as part of the shows' sixth season, where she was a Top 8 finalist and fan-favorite. Her dance background has helped her land spots as a guest performer on The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, Ellen, America's Got Talent, as well as The Kids Choice Awards. She further showcased her talent on popular shows such as Glee, Big Time Rush, Shake It Up, Suburgatory, Victorious, and Drop Dead Diva, and Disney's Austin & Ally. She has become a beloved role model to her fans, earning her two nominations for "Favorite Dance Idol" and "Favorite Dancer on TV/Film" at the KARtv Dance Awards.

When she's not acting or dancing, Gray is a budding musician with a passion for singing and writing her own material. With a style best described as alternative and a raspy, rocker voice she has released two singles, "You Don't Know Anything" and "Wasted." Both tracks are aimed at a tween/young adult audience and can be found on iTunes. Outside of work, Gray loves spending time with her parents and younger siblings Gage, Stone, and Star-Belle. She also enjoys being active outdoors, visiting the beach, and relaxing in the pool or hot tub.

Devon Graye was born on 8 March 1987 in Mountain View, California, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Nope (2022), I See You (2019) and 13 Sins (2014).

Born William White in 1923 to unmarried parents, Grayson was adopted into a coal mining family in Nuneaton.

By the age of 14, he was working under the name of Billy Breen as a supporting drag act on the comedy club circuit, and over the next thirty years he toured the UK not only in male revues and drag shows, but also in variety shows.

After touring and presenting further variety shows in the 70s, including his own TV series 'Shut That Door', his catchphrase, he took over presenting 'The Generation Game' from Bruce Forsyth.

He retired from television in 1981, but continued to perform in the theatre, particularly in pantomime. He died in 1995, aged 71.

Jack Dylan Grazer was born in Los Angeles, California, to parents Angela LaFever and Gavin Grazer.

With his disarming charm, undeniable talent, and infectious energy, Jack Dylan Grazer has emerged as one of the most exciting young actors working today. Grazer's rise to fame began with his memorable portrayal of the hypochondriacal Eddie Kaspbrak in the supernatural horror phenomenon "It" (2017) and its sequel "It: Chapter Two" (2019). These performances, based on the iconic Stephen King novel, showcased Grazer's ability to seamlessly blend comedic timing with genuine vulnerability, endearing him to audiences worldwide.

His role as Freddy Freeman in the DC Extended Universe blockbuster "Shazam!" (2019) further demonstrated Grazer's versatility. He brought heart and humor to the character, a foster child who becomes bestowed with the powers of a superhero. Grazer's undeniable chemistry with his castmates added an extra layer of joy and authenticity to this beloved comic book adaptation.

Grazer's talents extend beyond the big screen. In 2020, he starred in Luca Guadagnino's acclaimed HBO coming-of-age drama series "We Are Who We Are." Grazer's nuanced portrayal of Fraser Wilson, a troubled teenager exploring his identity while living on a US Army base in Italy, earned him critical recognition, highlighting his exceptional dramatic range.

Grazer's work ethic and commitment to character development are evident in every project he takes on. He is not an actor who rests on his success; he actively seeks out challenges that push him creatively. The thriller "Don't Tell a Soul" (2020) saw Grazer in a more sinister light, showcasing his ability to portray a broader range of complex emotions.

Beyond acting, Grazer is a passionate advocate for anti-bullying causes, serving as a global ambassador for the non-profit organization Stomp Out Bullying. He is also an avid skateboarder, aspiring filmmaker, and talented scriptwriter, demonstrating a diverse set of interests that complement his creative pursuits.

Grazer's passion for entertainment extends to roles behind the camera. He enjoys producing and directing his short films, demonstrating an ambition and creative curiosity that hints at his future potential within the industry. In 2023, we can see Grazer reprising his star-making role as Freddy Freeman in the highly anticipated sequel "Shazam! Fury of the Gods."

His upcoming roles further cement his status as an actor with incredible range. Grazer is set to voice Barney in the iconic animated reboot of "Barney & Friends" and star opposite Rachel Zegler in "The Shave" (anticipated release in 2024). This period drama based on real-life events is sure to offer Grazer another opportunity to showcase his depth and ability to embody multifaceted characters.

Still in his youth, Grazer has already achieved a level of success that many actors take decades to reach. With his infectious personality, undeniable talent, and willingness to take on challenging projects, Jack Dylan Grazer continues to captivate audiences and critics alike. His dedication to his craft, combined with a natural screen presence, suggest that his brightest days are still ahead of him.

Brian Lane Green is a Tony Award nominated actor for the Broadway musical "Starmites" and has appeared on Broadway in Cy Coleman's "The Life" and as Huck Finn in "Big River." He has also toured nationally and internationally in major marquee roles including "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." As a series regular on three Daytime TV soaps and with lead roles in the independent and cult film favorites "Circuit" and "Friends and Family." Brian has a strong fan base following. Currently, Brian is creating several projects for stage and screen, including a series of historical narratives with producing partner Ian Eugene Ryan. He conceived and directed "The Sedaka Show" and co-wrote the song "I Would Never Leave You" for the Tony Award winning show "Liza's At the Palace." Brian is often consulted for directing, writing and composing, and he is a favorite of many Grammy winning composers for his own performing renditions of standards and top hits. He has produced two albums, writing several of the cuts, and has won awards for his original music.

Brunson Green is known for The Help (2011), A United Kingdom (2016) and Walking Out (2017).

Drew Z. Greenberg was born on 8 June 1970 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Dexter (2006), Warehouse 13 (2009) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997).

Bob Greenblatt is known for Six Feet Under (2001), Heat Vision and Jack (1999) and The Gilded Age (2022).

Earl Greenburg was born in 1947 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a producer, known for Life's Most Embarrassing Moments (1983), Fantasy (1982) and Sci-Fi Trader (1994). He died on 1 February 2008 in Rancho Mirage, California, USA.

Glenn Greenwald was born on 6 March 1967 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for No Place to Hide, Untitled Martina Navratilova Project and Field of Vision (2015). He was previously married to David Miranda.

Michael Greer was an actor and comedian. His most famous role was as Queenie, the prison drag queen in Sal Mineo's stage and the Harvey Hart film versions of "Fortune and Men's Eyes" (Fortune and Men's Eyes (1971)), which dealt with sex in prison. Mr. Greer appeared as Don Johnson's friend in the 1960s cult film The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart (1970). That movie was also Don Johnson's big screen debut. Other credits include the B-Movie sex comedy Summer School Teachers (1975) and The Gay Deceivers (1969) about two guys avoiding combat in Vietnam by pretending to be gay. He also had bit parts in the Steve Martin comedy The Lonely Guy (1984) and the Bette Midler vehicle The Rose (1979)

Michael was also famous for his live performances as a comedian. Of particular note was a monologue, as the Mona Lisa, holding a giant gilded frame around himself.

He wrote supplemental material for Debbie Reynolds Vegas act, and was once called in to dub Bette Davis' voice when she refused to loop over scenes.

Greer was somewhat a victim of early "gaysploitation" films. A talented actor, it never occurred to him that once he had turned in solid performances as designated that he would not be allowed to work as much else, partially because no one had done it before.

He is not acknowledged much in gay cinema because of a climate of political correctness. He is probably more accurately remembered by friends, colleagues, and punters that saw his live work, than by Hollywood.

Sam Greisman was born on 2 December 1987 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Dinner with Jeffrey (2016), After School (2015) and Playing Men (2014).

Richard Grenell was born on 18 September 1966 in Jenison, Michigan, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Wake Up America (2020), The Plot Against the President (2020) and She Thinks (2015).

Joel Grey's father, Mickey Katz, created "Borscht Capades" in the early 1950s. Mickey Katz was a musician -- a clarinetist and a saxophone player -- in bands around the east. Mickey was performing, playing in a band in Cleveland, Ohio, which is where Joel Grey was born. Musician and bandleader Spike Jones needed a clarinet player who could do bits, funny things. Mickey went on the road with Jones' band for about a year, the Katz family ending up, as the band all went to California.

One day his father Mickey was doing a recording session at the Sunset Boulevard RCA-Victor recording studio in Hollywood, and during a break, Mickey always wrote parodies to pop songs for fun and had just written this parody -- he was singing it to one of the other Jewish musicians. Unbeknownst to him the microphone was open in the control room and this group of non-Jewish, white-bread heads of RCA-Victor were sitting there and he's singing a Yiddish song. They didn't know what he was singing but they were laughing and laughing and they decided to record it. The recording became an enormous hit. The records were so successful Mickey put together a variety show that sold out every week in Los Angeles at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. Joel knew, even at 9, that he was going to become an actor. When his father had this variety show, Joel said, "How can I be in it?" And his father said, "Well, what do you want to do?" Joel replied, "I don't know how to sing and I don't dance, but I'll run around and I'll move."

So Joel's aunt dropped him a song that was a big record in New York, a Yiddish song -- it was a million words and very fast and it was very popular with the audience -- and Joel learned it by rote. Joel had no idea what he was saying or singing and the next thing he knew, he was boxed in to being a song-and-dance man as opposed to an actor. "Romania, Romania." The song was like a Danny Kaye spectacular, fast, patter song that left a lot of room to dance and sing and mug and do all the things like his hero at the time -- Jerry Lewis. Maybe two years, Eddie Cantor saw Joel in Florida and put him on his "Colgate Comedy Hour' television show, and that was the end of the "Borscht Capades" for Joel, and the beginning of Joel's long tenure in night clubs all over the country.

John Greyson was born in 1960 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a director and writer, known for Lilies (1996), Zero Patience (1993) and Fig Trees (2009).

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. Griffin was best known for creating the two most popular game shows in television syndication history, Wheel of Fortune (1983) and Jeopardy! (1984), which are watched by hundreds of millions of people all over the world. 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 became increasingly popular with nightclub audiences and his fame soared among the general public when he struck gold in 1950 with "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts", which reached the number one spot on the Hit Parade and sold three million copies.

Continuing to record hits, including "Wilhelmina" and "Never Been Kissed", Griffin made a foray into motion pictures after Doris Day saw his nightclub performance and arranged a screen test for him at Warner Bros. Studios. While under contract at Warner Bros., he appeared in a number of hit movies, including So This Is Love (1953) with Kathryn Grayson and The Boy from Oklahoma (1954) with Will Rogers Jr., and Lon Chaney Jr..

Television then discovered him. As a regular performer on The Arthur Murray Party (1950), The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar (1957) and others, he was offered the opportunity to host his own television series, Play Your Hunch (1958). It was during this period that he conceived the idea for what was to become one of the most successful game shows in television history, Jeopardy! (1964). But it was in 1962 that his career took its most dramatic turn. 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. As a result, NBC gave him his own hour-long daytime talk show program, The Merv Griffin Show (1962).

Griffin's name and talk show career will always be seen in the light of that of Johnny Carson, the "King of late night TV", with whom Griffin directly competed on CBS from 1969 to 1972. Griffin's first daytime talk show began on the same day Carson first hosted The Tonight Show (1962). While Carson's style was indebted to his long apprenticeship in Los Angeles in the 1950s, Griffin was based in New York, where he socialized with New York's theater and café crowds. 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. In 1965, Griffin was criticized as a "traitor" when he aired a special from London in which Nobel Prize-winning philosopher Bertrand Russell denounced the Vietnam War.

Despite his success on daytime television, it was late night that was The Holy Grail for talk show hosts. In 1969, CBS hired Griffin to directly compete with Carson in the 11:30 PM to 1:00 AM time slot that had proven a grave yard for other personalities. 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 irony of the situation wasn't wasted on me", Griffin recalls in his autobiography. "In 1965, I'm called a traitor by the press for presenting Bertrand Russell, and, four years later, we are hard-pressed to find anybody to speak in favor of the Vietnam War".

In March 1970, CBS censors pixilated antiwar activist Abbie Hoffman because he was wearing a shirt that resembled an American flag. The resulting blurred image meant that Hoffman's voice emanated from a "jumble of lines". CBS also pressured Griffin into sacking his long-term sidekick Arthur Treacher, who had been his television mentor, because he was too old. The censorship did not boost the ratings for Griffin, who was facing stiff competition from the genial Carson, who himself was criticized during the era for shying away from controversial subjects.

In 1972, a fed-up Griffin negotiated a syndication deal with Metromedia to move his talk show back to the daytime, and in the event he was terminated by CBS. The deal was signed in secret as a penalty clause in his CBS contract gave him $1 million in the event of his being fired. 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. An avid fan of puzzles since childhood, Griffin first produced a successful game show in 1964, Jeopardy! (1964) for NBC. After 13 seasons as a daytime talk show host, Griffin retired from his talk show in 1986 to devote himself to producing his highly profitable game shows.

Jeopardy! (2002) remains the second highest rated game show in television syndication while Wheel of Fortune (1983) continues to be the longest running game show to hold the number one spot in television syndication history. Other Griffin successes in the game show field included "One in a Million" and Joe Garagiola's Memory Game (1971), both airing on ABC, Let's Play Post Office on NBC, and Reach for the Stars (1967).

In 1986, Griffin sold his production company, Merv Griffin Enterprises, to Coca-Cola's Columbia Pictures Television unit for $250 million as well as a continuing share of the profits of the shows. At that time, the transaction represented the largest acquisition of an entertainment company owned by a single individual. Subsequently, Sony Pictures Entertainment purchased Columbia and he retains the title of executive producer of both "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" (for which he still creates puzzles and questions.) He served as Executive Producer of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" (2000).

After his retirement from daytime chat, Merv became a real estate baron, acquiring the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, which is now the venue of choice for virtually all of the Tinseltown's most high profile events such as The Golden Globe Awards, The Soap Opera Digest Awards, and The American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Awards. He also owns the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas in Arizona, and St. Clerans Manor, an 18th century estate once owned by director John Huston which is located near Galway, the premier resort destination in Ireland.

In January 1998, Griffin opened The Coconut Club, one of the country's hottest swing/dance clubs, at his Beverly Hilton Hotel. This weekend venue, fashioned after Hollywood's famed Coconut Grove (where Griffin headlined as a boy singer with The Freddy Martin Orchestra) features live Big Bands, Swing Orchestras, and Rock Bands amidst a glamorous nightclub setting.

He was honored with the prestigious 1994 Broadcasting and Cable "Hall of Fame" Award, alongside such figures as Diane Sawyer and Dan Rather. Winner of 15 Emmy Awards, Griffin was presented an Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show Emmy for 1993-1994 as executive producer of Jeopardy! (1984) He had also been the recipient of the coveted Scopus Award from the American Friends of Hebrew University, "The Duke Award" presented by the John Wayne Cancer Institute, and he had been honored by the American Ireland Fund and the SHARE organization. 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. 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. Merv Griffin died at age 82 of prostate cancer in Los Angeles, California on August 12, 2007.