Wink Martindale was more than just a familiar face on TV — he was a voice of comfort, excitement, and joy for so many Americans growing up. People still remember the thrill of watching Tic-Tac-Dough, the fun of Headline Chasers, and the fast-paced energy of High Rollers. But Gambit… that one hit differently. That was the show that truly stuck with people. There was just something about Wink’s charm and the way he brought the game to life that made it feel personal — like he was inviting you into something special.

Winston Conrad Martindale was born on December 4, 1933, in Jackson, Tennessee. He got his start in broadcasting early, working as a disc jockey at just 17 years old at WPLI in his hometown, pulling in $25 a week.

Reflecting on how he got his famous nickname, he shared with ABC News in 2014, “When I was a kid in Jackson, Tenn., one of my playmates, Jimmy McCord, couldn’t say ‘Winston,’ which is my given name, and he had a speech impediment, and it came out sounding like ‘Winky.’ So Winston turned into Winky, and then I got into the business and Wink!”