| Photo: Getty Images. Hungarian actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor with her family at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, October 01, 1958. Add photos, demo reels Add to list More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Awards 1 win & 7 nominations Known for Wheel of Fortune 6.7 TV Series Producer Within a few months, Griffin was fired by CBS. He was a singer, actor and longtime host of "The Merv Griffin Show." He created "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune," but to his only child, Tony Griffin, he was just dad. The show, originally titled What's the Question?, premiered on NBC on March 30, 1964, hosted by Art Fleming, and ran for 11 years. Another was '79 Wistful Vista.' creator passed away in 2007. Merv Griffin was among the most popular and successful television talk-show hosts in the 60s. Producer: Jeopardy!. The company known as Merv Griffin Enterprises was first known as "Merv Griffin Productions" and was formed in 1964 by television personality Merv Griffin (formerly "Milbarn Productions" in 1963) with his game show Jeopardy! 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. category. | Photo: Getty Images. She arranged for a screen test at the Warner Bros. Studios for a role in By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953). One of his ex-employees sued him for palimony [and] the case was thrown out of court. ", Donovan Mervyn and Farah Griffin at their grandfather, Merv Griffin's funeral in Beverly Hills 2007 | Source: Getty Images. The show was later renamed "The Merv Griffin Show. Griffin was best known for creating the two most popular game shows in television syndication history, Wheel of Fortune (1983) and Jeopardy! One regular attendee, Lillian Miller, became a fixture on the show throughout its run. 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. Who is Merv Griffin's son Tony Griffin? Its disheartening that Merv had to die to shake it for good. Merv Griffin was an entertainment industry giant. [12], Griffin became increasingly popular with nightclub audiences, and his fame soared among the general public with his 1950 hit "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts". The media mogul was previously married to Julann Wright, and the two share a son, Tony Griffin. Karen Griffin is Peter 's sister, a wrestler who performs under the name of "Heavy Flo." When she drops in to visit for Thanksgiving in "Peter's Sister". Terrio's suit alleged: "Commencing in 1978 and continuing through the parties' business relationship, the Defendant, Merv Griffin, made ongoing explicit homosexual advances towards [Terrio]. Eva Gabor was born in Budapest to an upper-middle-class family, and she began her career as an ice skater and caf singer. They divorced in 1976 after 17 years of marriage. [50][51], Funeral services were held on August 17, 2007, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. When Treacher left the show in 1970, Griffin did the announcing himself, and walked on stage with the phrase "And now here I come!" during the weekend of August 1819, 2007. The theme returned to the show in 2021 at the start of season 39. Griffin did his best to shy away from disclosing his sexuality on numerous occasions. Trump asks for mistrial in E. Jean Carroll rape lawsuit, U.S. to let Afghan evacuees renew temporary legal status, First Republic Bank seized by regulators, then sold to JPMorgan Chase, Texas man who lost wife and son in shooting shares story, Tornado hits Virginia Beach, damaging up to 100 homes, More Americans escape Sudan as country teeters on edge of civil war, Mental health of LGBTQ youth worsening in current "hostile political climate", Stray bullet strikes college baseball player during game, Texas police say, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo found dead at 46. From that point on, Griffin would do the announcing himself, and walk on stage with the phrase: "And now, here I come!". Andy Kaufman's appearance on the show was a feature in the plot of the 1999 biopic Man on the Moon, with Griffin being played by character actor Mike Villani. He also produced Let's Play Post Office for NBC in 1965, Reach for the Stars for NBC in 1967, and One in a Million for ABC in 1967. Griffin characterized both lawsuits as extortion. E19 All episodes Cast & crew IMDbPro All topics David Soul and Karen Soul, Milt Kamen, Maxine Greene, Morty Gunty, Ruth McFadden, the Earl of Litchfield Episode aired Sep 26, 1968 TV-PG YOUR RATING Rate Comedy Family Music Add a plot in your language Stars Merv Griffin Karen Carlson Frank Gallop And we we just went over our lives. Elke Sommer, Dylana Jenson, Karen Valentine, Steve Allen, Sand: With Merv Griffin, Steve Allen, Dylana Jenson, Mort Lindsey. Merv Griffin created two of the most popular game shows in the history of television: Jeopardy! Musical performers and composers ranging from Devo to Aretha Franklin with Bobby Vinton, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marvin Gaye, Merle Haggard, The Bee Gees and Johnny Cash, among others, all guesting. [35][36] After ten months of ownership, Griffin reported a loss of $46.6 million. I will do anything with anybody for a quarter. The guests on the Westinghouse show were an eclectic mix of entertainers, authors, politicians, and "personality" performers like Zsa Zsa Gabor. The background to this was on November 12, when Resorts reached a tentative agreement with certain bondholders, several bondholders petitioned the United States Bankruptcy Court in Camden, New Jersey, to put the company into involuntary bankruptcy to protect legal claims they might have against Trump, the real estate investor Griffin outbid for Resorts the prior year. However, Griffin's show continued to rank in second place behind Carson, even after the move. and Wheel of Fortune. Those who dont cant really be faulted, as rarely do honesty and full disclosure prove a boon to ones showbiz livelihood. From 2005-2008, Griffin joined forces with Yani-Brune Entertainment and was in charge of Griffin's television division after Griffin died of prostate cancer on August 12, 2007. And Mervs brush with tabloid scandal no doubt only drove him further into the closet. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. He certainly didnt owe us an explanation, but maybe he owed it to himself to remove the suffocating veil hed been forced to hide behind throughout his adult life. 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. Why are we still so jittery even about raising the issue in purportedly liberal-minded Hollywood in 2007? [citation needed], Griffin started as a singer on radio at age 19, appearing on San Francisco Sketchbook, a nationally syndicated program based at KFRC. They divorced in 1973 because of "irreconcilable differences." "It was a pivotal. The mother and son have yet to comment on whether or not they believe that Merv led a "secret" lifestyle behind closed doors. The Merv Griffin Show hosted Whitney Houstons first TV appearance in 1983. Other notable guests that rarely made TV appearances showed up to talk to Griffin include Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell and Salvador Dal. It taped in Los Angeles after initial reports that it would be produced at WMAQ-TV in Chicago. All content, including text, and images contained on. Furthermore, the network was uncomfortable with the guests Griffin wanted, who often spoke out against the Vietnam War and on other taboo topics. Their marriage plans were also once revealed by Eva's sister Zsa Zsa who claimed Griffin and Eva would get married after they returned from the Bahamas. August 13, 2007 / 9:29 AM Karen Griffin is the main antagonist of the Family Guy episode "Peter's Sister". The TV production icon constantly navigated his way through Hollywood under the guise of having relationships with women. GSN honored Griffin by airing ten-episode marathons of Wheel and Jeopardy! Seinfeld spoofed the show in Season 9, Episode 6, The Merv Griffin Show, in which Cosmo Kramer pretends that he hosts his own talk show using the discarded set from the show, which he sets up in his apartment. In 1963, NBC offered him the opportunity to host a new game show, Word for Word, which Griffin produced. "Milestones of Motoring (1954)" sponsored by Standard Oil of Ohio, Hagley Library Digital Archive. When she drops in to visit for Thanksgiving in "Peter's Sister". The Gabor sisters during a party at the Stork Club in New York, February 5, 1961. Merv Griffin was a Hollywood TV star turned successful business mogul. Metromedia also gave Griffin prime time clearances on the company's group of independent stations, which included outlets in New York, Los Angeles, MinneapolisSaint Paul and Washington, D.C. Beginning in 1981, The Merv Griffin Show was cut back to one hour in order to accommodate stations who preferred that length over the 90-minute version. Then he conceived the idea of a game show where contestants would be given answers but have to come up with the questions or lose their money if they could not. [52] He was buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, where his epitaph reads "I will not be right back after this message". The Merv Griffin Show: With Merv Griffin, Mort Lindsey, Mort Lindsey Orchestra, Arthur Treacher. [25] After Paar left The Tonight Show, but before Johnny Carson took over (Carson was still hosting Who Do You Trust? He could duck it for a while, but it would always find him. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Merv Griffin invites a series of actors, actresses, writers, and directors to discuss the progressive work they have done and current culture, arts, and entertainment surrounding the numerous projects. Before he sold his enterprise, Griffin was a very determined investor with radio stations and media outlets acquisitions. Eva Gabor and TV star Merv Griffin. He was his own boss. [17] Buzzell was engaged to popular singer Lu Ann Simms, with a wedding date set for July 24, 1954. He was a singer, actor and longtime host of "The Merv Griffin Show." Soon he got his own game show, "Play Your Hunch." CBS canceled The Merv Griffin Show in 1972, but it continued in syndication and as part of the Metromedia network of independent TV stations until 1986. The new show featured live music with two singers while simulating a trip to various places in the world. Seeing his strong ratings, CBS offered him a network series opposite the powerhouse Tonight Show, and his program moved there in the fall of 1969, with his debut guest lineup consisting of Hedy Lamarr, Ted Sorensen, Leslie Uggams, Moms Mabley, and Woody Allen. His love of games started as a child when he would play hangman with his sister. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. According to an obituary on August 24, 2007, in Entertainment Weekly, The Merv Griffin Show ran for 21 years and won 11 Emmy Awards. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! This information was blown up in 1991 when he was targeted in lawsuits accusing him of sexual harassment. School Bus Driver Passes Out 13-Year-Old Boy Grabs the Wheel of Bus Packed with 60 Kids, Tobe Nwigwe's Wife Fat Nwigwe Gave Birth to the Rapper's Four Kids, Doting Dad Macaulay Culkin Looks 'Healthy' Hand-In-Hand with Fiance after Welcoming Baby No.2, Melissa Sue Andersons Kids Whom She Did Not Want to Raise the Way Michael Landon Raised His Daughter, Rock Hudson & Jim Nabors Never Spoke Again after They Were Reportedly Seen Getting Married, Ryan ONeals Son Griffins Life Was Ruined by Familys Mess Yet He Helped Struggling Half-Brother Get Better. It aired in a variety of time slots throughout North America; many stations ran it in the daytime, others aired it in primetime, and a few broadcast it opposite Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. for ABC), Griffin was one of the many guest hosts who presided over Tonight in the interim. The Jeopardy! Legendary actors and directors who appeared on the program include Orson Welles, John Wayne, Judy Garland (who took over as guest hostess for Griffin on one program in January 1969, six months before her death), Doris Day (Griffin's longtime friend), Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, Sophia Loren, George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Gene Wilder, Francis Ford Coppola, Dustin Hoffman, Clint Eastwood and Grace Kelly. Griffin himself was an enthusiastic meditator.[27]. 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. A post-burial reception was held at the Beverly Hilton, owned by Griffin from 1987 to 2003. Griffin dismissed Plott's claims, chalking it up to the fact that Plott was only trying to extort him by lying: "This is a shameless attempt to extort money from me. Since making her TV debut on The Merv Griffin Show with the song in June 1983, pop/R&B singer Whitney Houstons performance of Home has been used heavily in Houstons discography. His charges are ridiculous and untrue. (GSN, 1998, both for children); Rock & Roll Jeopardy! It was alleged that Griffin had been the one to beg Plott to move in with him for years before Plott eventually agreed. Rather than interview a guest for a cursory 5- or 6-minute segment, Griffin preferred lengthy, in-depth discussions with many stretching out past 30 minutes. After Griffin's death, The Hollywood Reporter published a report stating that he had been a closeted gay man. Metromedia's independent stations continued to carry The Merv Griffin Show until they were sold in early 1986 to News Corporation and 20th Century Fox, who used the stations as the nucleus of the Fox Broadcasting Company. [5] The family was Irish American. He learned the above on his first day of work. He did not get to do that with 'Merv Griffin's Crossword' that comes out in September. It wasn't something that he it wasn't something that it wasn't him. ", Merv Griffin at the Childhelp USA "Drive the Dream Gala" in Arizona 2005 | Source: Getty Images. Meg discovers that she treats Peter the same way that he treats her. He bought his contract back from Warner Bros. and decided to devote his attention to a new medium: television. Eva Gabor (in red) along with the stars of the 1986 TV series "Bridges To Cross." Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The series ran on NBC from October 1, 1962,[1] to March 29, 1963; in first-run syndication from May 10, 1965, to July 4, 1969; at 11:30p.m. By early 1972, sensing that his time at CBS was ending, and tired of the restrictions imposed by the network, Griffin secretly signed a contract with Metromedia and its production arm, Metromedia Producers Corporation (MPC) to continue his program in syndication as soon as CBS canceled Griffin's show. Around the office, Mervs being gay was understood but rarely discussed. Why should that be so uncomfortable to read? ", In 1953, the three sisters already had nightclub acts in Vegas, and Eva further appeared in another movie titled "The Last Time I Saw Paris.". Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. (July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007) was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. Griffin later sold his production empire "Merv Griffin Enterprises" to Coca-Cola for a staggering amount of $250 million in 1986. Griffin's announcer-sidekick was the veteran British character actor Arthur Treacher, who had been his mentor. His announcer/sidekick was veteran British character actor Arthur Treacher, who had been Griffin's mentor. Griffin scored a coup when Tonight Show host Jack Paar accidentally emerged onto the set of Play Your Hunch during a live broadcast, and Griffin got him to stay for a spontaneous interview. ET weeknights on CBS from August 18, 1969, to February 11, 1972; and again in first-run syndication from February 14, 1972, to September 5, 1986. Griffin did not get the part, but the screen test led to supporting roles in other musical films such as So This Is Love (also 1953),[14] which caused a minor controversy when Griffin shared an open-mouthed kiss with Kathryn Grayson. Griffin later claimed in interviews that he was best man at their wedding, but was in fact one of the four ushers. CBS gave Griffin a late-night show opposite Carson in 1969. They divorced in 1976 after 17 years of marriage. He was overweight as an adolescent and a young man, which disappointed some radio fans when they saw him in person. As a result, this literally wiped out or greatly reduced the investments of the bondholders, so that Mr. Griffin could sue Trump and yet still retain a significant portion for himself. On live broadcasting, Ogunnaike doubled down on Griffin's statement: "Well, you know, he was married, he was divorced, and he was dating Eva Gabor. Wes Anderson Directing Star Wars? This is believed to be why he went around town in the company of people like Eva Gabor, with whom he reportedly had a platonic relationship. We can refer to it casually in conversation, but the mainstream media somehow remains trapped in the Dark Ages when it comes to labeling a person as gay. a decade prior and would initially provide the studio for the revival). According to Griffin, they were driven apart by their inability to agree on the house they would live in and which staff Eva would bring with her. Griffin wrote the 30-second piece of music heard during the show's Final Jeopardy! It was then that Merv, who loved puzzles, came up with the idea for a show called "Jeopardy!" Griffin secured an agreement with NBC, which allowed him to set up a production company. Griffin's conversational style created the perfect atmosphere for conducting intelligent interviews that could be serious with some and light-hearted with others. (May 18, 1959 - June 1976) (divorced, 1 child), The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar (1957), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Cowan even went so far as to say that he would be "surprised" if Eva and Griffin got married. and Wheel remain on the air today. [4] As a child, Griffin used to play Hangman games with his sister during family road trips. Peter challenges her to a female wrestling match where she is close to beating him, when Meg appears and whacks her with a chair, resulting in a serious injury and coma. Robert Plant's Wife: Maureen Wilson Is the Only Woman the Legendary Singer Was Married To, Brendan Fraser's 2 Handsome Sons Hug Him after His Ex Was Awarded $900K in Alimony & Child Support, The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Merv Griffin Reportedly Led Secret Gay Life despite a Wife & Son - Man Claimed Entertainer Fell in Love with Him By Taitirwa Sehliselwe Murape Apr 21, 2023 07:00 P.M. Until his death, Griffin sought identity coverage from Wright and Gabor. ", Merv Griffin posing for a portrait in Los Angeles 1985 | Source: Getty Images. [15] He also had an uncredited role as a radio announcer in the horror/science fiction film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953). The Merv Griffin Show hosted Whitney Houston 's first TV appearance in 1983. That was it. Griffin met his first and only wife, Julann Wright, through Robert Q. Lewis on a radio show. He also hosted a primetime ABC game show, Keep Talking. However, it was reported that their relationship was strictly platonic. Additionally, the sources reported witnessing Griffin on a cozy date in a dimly lit restaurant with another man, where the two were very clearly flirting. Over the course of that time . During that time, she also appeared and received praises for her performance in the Broadway production of "The Happy Time." Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007) was a singer ("I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts"), Talk Show host ( The Merv Griffin Show ), and television producer who created several Game Shows and wrote almost all the music they used. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. [29], In 1988, Griffin 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. [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]. 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. Arnold Schwarzenegger, later the 38th governor of California, made his U.S. talk show debut on Griffin's show in 1974 after emigrating from Austria. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Who is Karen Griffin on Wheel of Fortune? All Rights Reserved. ', Brendan Fraser Won Oscar for Playing 600LB Man but Was Bullied for Being Fat after Opening up about Injuries, Brendan Fraser's Lookalike Ginger Son Dazes with His Appearance - He Made Peace with Ex to Be Best Dad for Him, Jillian Bell Once Talked about Having a Boyfriend and Now Seems to Be Single, Michael Landons Gay Son Shows Lookalike Kids After Painful Childhood & Losing Dad at 16, Sabrina Carpenter's Boyfriends: A Look Back on Her Rumored and Actual Relationships. Karen Sue Griffin, 1952 - 2015. This former bodyguard and horse trainer was paid $250 a week, lived in one of two apartments underneath my former house as part of his security function, and left my payroll six or seven years ago. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Merv Griffin, the former talk-show host who became a Hollywood billionaire by investing in real estate and creating the popular game shows "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of. She is Peter Griffin's abusive sister and a wrestler who performs under the name of "Heavy Flo". He retained the title of creator of both his game shows. (on what he would like his headstone to read) Stay tuned. When asked about his sexuality, Griffin never confirmed nor denied rumors about him being gay; his co-stars and staff members have purported this to be true. - when asked if he was gay. King World Productions (now CBS Media Ventures) took over syndication of the program in 1984; King World was Griffin's syndication partner for Wheel of Fortune and was about to relaunch his other game show Jeopardy! Griffin disliked the censorship imposed by CBS and complained. [18][19], That summer, Griffin became acquainted with music publisher Loring Buzzell. | Photo: Getty Images. After Paar left The Tonight Show, but before Johnny Carson took over (Carson was still hosting Who Do You Trust? The pair went out on regular dates that were said to be strictly "platonic" up until she died in 1995. Million Dollar Masters Tournament from 2002. In 1998, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs was dedicated to him. 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On September 29, 2022, Griffin was posthumously inducted into the inaugural class of the Jeopardy! He also revealed the breakup happened just before Eva tragically died. That was up to him. According to Bowers, Griffin told him about a gas station that doubled as a sort of brothel for gay men where "you would go to get in trouble. #inline-recirc-item--id-abae3194-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { [32][34] After Trump paid $101 million for Resorts International Inc. in 1987, Griffin bought it back from him for $365 million and assumed the hotel-casino's debt of $925 million on November 15, 1988. The ex-couple share one son, Tony Griffin, who is an American actor and writer. The Hollywood star was admitted to the hospital on June 21 after breaking her hip from a fall while traveling. The Merv Griffin Show S6. If youre Griffin, why would you think a judgmental culture would be any more tolerant as you grew into middle and old age? The constant allegations and outings about Merv's sexuality caused him to steer entirely clear of the gay community and refrain from supporting gay rights initiatives. When political activist Abbie Hoffman was his guest in April 1970, CBS blurred the video of Hoffman so viewers at home would not see his trademark American flag pattern shirt, even though other guests had worn the same shirt in the past, uncensored. [3] Selected edited episodes, distributed by Paul Brownstein Productions, are airing on the GetTV channel.[4]. Griffin would invite Reagan over to his hotel for dinner to celebrate, and he also introduced her to Astrologer Joan Quigley. in 1964. [17] He landed a job as the host of a new television show, CBS-TV's Summer Holiday, a summer replacement for Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen and Jo Stafford's The Jo Stafford Show, which he co-hosted with Betty Ann Grove. Griffin was married to Julann Wright, and together they had a son named Anthony. His Los Angeles Times obituary repeated a 1991 statement he had made regarding Plott's lawsuit: "This is a shameless attempt to extort money from me. In 1954, Griffin appeared in several Cincraft Productions sponsored films including a musical, Milestones of Motoring with Joe E. Brown and Rita Farrell. However, when it came to Griffin facing the fact that his business was being outed to the public regardless of anything he did to try and keep his life private, the TV host admitted: "I tell everybody that I'm a quarter-sexual. John Forsythe, Vanna White, Laffit Pincay Jr., Willie Shoemaker, Merv Griffin, Gary Stevens and Walter Matthau at the celebration for the fiftieth anniversary of the Hollywood Park race track in Los Angeles 1988 | Source: Getty Images. He had an older sister named Barbara. [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. Wright is now 94, and her son Tony is now 63. Nonetheless, the elephant that was his sexual orientation never really stopped following Griffin from room to room. Merv Griffin, who in addition to becoming a media mogul also hosted his own iconic television talk show, is the man who brought two of the most lasting game shows to the medium. Their son, Tony Griffin, born in 1959, had two children of his own. No lifetime achievement award was presented in 2020 and 2021. He created "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune," but to his only child, Tony Griffin, he was just dad. I've never pretended to be someone I wasn't. This former bodyguard and horse trainer was paid $250 a week, lived in one of two apartments underneath my former house as part of his security function, and left my payroll six or seven years ago. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Raymond Burr Lied about Wife & Son to Hide Gay Romance for 35 Years - At 93 His Lover Lives on Actor's Vineyards, Does David Yost Have a Partner? Family Guy Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. He moved on and got a singing gig on a 30-piece orchestra show called "San Francisco Sketchbookshow." Merv Griffin passed away on August 12, 2007. is for general information purposes only. The Merv Griffin Show was parodied on Second City Television, with Griffin played by Rick Moranis. The following month after Griffin's first case was dismissed, "Dance Fever" host Deney Terrio filed an additional lawsuit against Griffin. It's the same tune that persists to . Griffin's three-year run at CBS was contentious; the network was uncomfortable with the guests he wanted, who often spoke out against the Vietnam War and on other sensitive topics. The two powerhouses spun off numerous programs, for which Griffin often signed on as a creative consultant. I would have to be the best. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Upon arrival in the US, she signed with Paramount Pictures, took acting lessons, and learned to speak proper English. [7], During World War II, Griffin was declared 4F after failing several military physical examinations due to a slight heart murmur.