Original Wheel of Fortune host Chuck Woolery dies aged 83

Chuck Woolery, the beloved television host and original face of Wheel of Fortune, passed away at the age of 83 at his home in Texas on Saturday. His longtime friend and co-host, Mark Young, confirmed the news, sharing that Woolery died suddenly during Young’s visit.

“It is with a broken heart that I tell you my dear brother has just passed away,” Young wrote in an emotional tribute on X (formerly Twitter). “Life will not be the same without him. RIP, brother.”

While the exact circumstances of Woolery’s passing remain unclear, Young told TMZ that the legendary host had been feeling unwell and went to rest. Woolery later returned, struggling to breathe, prompting Young to call 911. Tragically, Woolery passed away before help arrived.

Woolery made his mark as the original host of Wheel of Fortune from its 1975 debut until 1981, earning a Daytime Emmy in 1978 for his work. Following his departure after a salary dispute, he passed the hosting duties to Pat Sajak. Woolery then went on to host numerous other iconic game shows, including Love Connection, Scrabble, Greed, and Lingo, becoming a household name in the process.

Before his television career, Woolery started as a singer, crafting advertising jingles and even landing a Top 40 hit with “Naturally Stoned” in 1968 as part of the pop duo The Avant Garde. The song later served as the theme for his 2003 Game Show Network reality series.

Woolery’s entertainment legacy also included appearances in films like Cold Feet and TV series such as 227 and Scrubs. His career took off after performing Delta Dawn on The Merv Griffin Show, which led to his casting as the host of Shopper’s Bazaar, the precursor to Wheel of Fortune.

Despite his successful career, Woolery faced setbacks, including his exit from Wheel of Fortune in 1981 after NBC withdrew a salary negotiation offer, leading to his replacement by Pat Sajak and Vanna White stepping in as the show’s letter-turner.

Beyond game shows, Woolery hosted Love Connection for over 2,000 episodes, helmed his own CBS morning show, and co-hosted Home and Family.

He is survived by his wife, Kim Woolery, and children Katherine, Melissa, Michael, and Sean.

Music by Yevhen Onoychenko from Pixabay