Who was Wink Martindale married to? Personal life explored as DJ and Hot 100 hitmaker dies at 91

Wink Martindale, the veteran TV personality and radio host whose gravelly, signature voice was a familiar opening in show intros over the decades, died on April 15, 2025, at the age of 91. He peacefully passed away in his Rancho Mirage, California, residence, with his wife Sandra "Sandy" Martindale and his family by his side. Wink and Sandy spent 49 years together. Before that, Wink was married to Madelyn Leech for about 18 years.

As much as the couple's personal life was away from the public, their long-lasting marriage was a steady, persistent element along the way of Martindale's long and diverse career in television and radio.

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Who is Sandy Martindale?

Sandy Ferra, later Sandy Martindale, was not a public figure in and of herself, though she had some association with the entertainment industry. Sandy appeared as a dancer in several Elvis movies, including Viva Las Vegas (1964). She was also associated with Elvis Presley, whom she dated when she was only a teenager for a brief time.

Sandy's association with Wink was through Elvis. In an interview in 2015, she said,

"Elvis is responsible for me marrying Wink."

Sandy stayed out of the public eye for much of her marriage to Wink, opting instead to back him in private at professional functions. Although she was not a household name, she was still a stabilizing and influential presence in Wink's life, particularly in his later years.

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A career spanning more than seven decades

Wink Martindale's professional radio career began in the 1950s as a disc jockey.

He then came up with a series of legendary game shows, including Tic-Tac-Dough, Gambit, High Rollers, and Debt. His spoken-word album "Deck of Cards" charted to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959, and he became a household name among artists.

Even after he retired from TV, Wink Martindale remained in touch with his public on social media. He interacted with people on websites such as Facebook and YouTube, posting his game show clips and providing his take on TV history. While he rarely commented on his life in public, Sandy popped up in his entries from time to time, providing short glimpses into their personal moments.

Wink's existence on the web made it possible for him to remain active and in good standing in the business, touching new generations of people even at an advanced age.

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Wink Martindale's career was marked by an uncommon stretch of success on television and radio, interspersed with a subdued but enduring marriage to Sandy Martindale. Although most of their personal life stayed behind closed doors, their long-standing devotion to each other was a defining part of Wink's narrative.

As tributes continue to flow after his death, his professional achievements and his quietly steadfast marriage to Sandy remain central to his legacy in the entertainment world.

Also read: When did Sandy Ferra Martindale and Elvis Presley date? All we know about Wink Martindale’s wife as he dies at 91