Mike Douglas dead on his 81st birthday

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Mike Douglas, the former television talk show host, passed away at the age of 81 on his birthday in West Palm Beach. He was known for his engaging personality and singing talent during his 21-year run as the host of a popular syndicated talk show. His wife reported that he died in a hospital, though the cause was not immediately known. The discussion reflects on his legacy, noting that he was a household name for two decades and influenced later talk show hosts like Rosie O'Donnell. There was some confusion regarding his involvement in game shows, with participants clarifying that he was often mixed up with Merv Griffin, who was more directly associated with shows like "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy." Douglas did record a Christmas album and occasionally performed on his show, highlighting his multifaceted career in entertainment.
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Mike Douglas, former TV talk show host, dead at 81 in West Palm

Associated Press
Posted August 11 2006, 1:00 PM EDT

WEST PALM BEACH -- Mike Douglas, who drew on his affable personality and singing talent during 21 years as host of a syndicated television talk show, died Friday on his 81st birthday, his wife said.

He died at 5:30 a.m. at a Palm Beach Gardens hospital, Genevieve Douglas said. She wasn't sure of the cause yet, but said he was admitted Thursday. [continued]

I would imagine that most people here don't even know who this is, but his was a household name for about twenty years.
 
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Ivan Seeking said:
I would imagine that most people here don't even know who this is, but his was a household name for about twenty years.

I actually do (which means I've just dated myself). Rosie O'Donnell unbashly mentioned that she fashioned her talk show based on the Mike Douglas Show.

BTW, didn't he also used to own several game shows, including Wheel of Fortune? Or was it Jeopardy?

Zz.
 
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I think that's right. You might say that he was a really big wheel in Hollywood?
 
ZapperZ said:
I actually do

As do I, and I can still picture him.
 
ZapperZ said:
BTW, didn't he also used to own several game shows, including Wheel of Fortune? Or was it Jeopardy?
I'm not sure whether he had any or not. You might be getting him mixed up with Merv Griffin, who owns several and also had a talk show about the same time.
 
Danger said:
I'm not sure whether he had any or not. You might be getting him mixed up with Merv Griffin, who owns several and also had a talk show about the same time.

Oooh.. that could be it.

Now tell me also that Mike Douglas did record a singing album, didn't he? Or was that also Merv Griffin? :)

Zz.
 
I've actually seen the Mike Douglas show, which at the time was produced in Philadelphia. :rolleyes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mike_Douglas_Show
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Douglas

He really did have a very charming and affable personality, well at least on TV, and he was very involved in the entertainment industry.

The Merv is Mr. Game Show.

Mike and Merv did cross paths in Beverly Hills, and both were singers.

He [Griffin] earned enough to form his own record label, Panda Records, and his self-released album Songs by Merv Griffin was the first American album recorded on magnetic tape.
from Wikipedia's article on Merv.

Douglas recorded a Christmas album in 1979, and before that, I think he recorded some singles. He occasionally sang on his show.
 
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