Griffin was a native of New Jersey, one of three children, with a brother, poet Alan MacDougall, and a sister, Barbara Dan, writer.
[citation needed] Griffin grew up in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Chicago and Portland, Oregon, and married Lydia.
He taught statistics, calculus and differential equations at California State University-Sacramento from 1965 until his death on October 18, 1998, from prostate cancer.
[citation needed] Griffin wrote the 1979 book, The Theory of Blackjack: The Compleat Card Counter’s Guide to the Casino Game of 21, which is considered to be a classic in the field.
[citation needed] Griffin along with Anthony Curtis is cited as coming up with the title for the main column of the Las Vegas Advisor, 'Couponomy'.