<Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Julann Wright (m . 1958; div. 1973) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Children </Th> <Td> Tony Griffin (b . 1959) </Td> </Tr> <P> Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr . (July 6, 1925--August 12, 2007) was an American television host and media mogul . He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in film and on Broadway . From 1965 to 1986, Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show . He also created the internationally popular game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune through his television production companies, Merv Griffin Enterprises and Merv Griffin Entertainment . </P> <P> Griffin was born July 6, 1925, in San Mateo, California, to Mervyn Edward Griffin, Sr., a stockbroker, and Rita Elizabeth Griffin (née Robinson), a homemaker . The family was Irish American . Raised as a Roman Catholic, Griffin started singing in his church choir as a boy, and by his teens was earning extra money as a church organist . His abilities as a pianist played a part in his early entry into show business . </P>

Who is credited with creating the tv game show jeopardy