Griffin and former First Lady Nancy Reagan arrive in Beverly Hills for the presentation of the 1997 Ronald Reagan Freedom Award, which was given to Bob Hope. (Chris Pizzello / AP)
Singer and songwriter Carol Connors with Griffin at a benefit auction in Los Angeles in 2001. (Sebastian Artz / Getty Images)
Griffin during a 2003 L.A. Times interview at the Beverly Hilton. He sold the hotel that year after buying it in 1987 and spending millions to renovate it. During his career, Griffin bought and sold more than 20 hotels, gambling resorts and riverboats. (Michael Ross Wacht / For The Times)
Poolside at the Beverly Hilton. (Lucy Nicholson / AP)
Griffin and astronaut Buzz Aldrin at a Los Angeles gala honoring fashion icon Fred Hayman in May 2007. (Charley Gallay / Getty Images)
