Chuck Woolery, the original host of “Wheel of Fortune” and an iconic force on a number of game shows over the years, has died, TMZ reported late Saturday.
He was 83.
Woolery hosted “Wheel” from 1975 to 1981 before serving as an MC on several other programs such as “Love Connection,” “Scrabble,” “The Dating Game,” “Greed” and “Lingo.” Most recently, he hosted the Fox Nation special ”’80s Quiz Show” back in June.
His cause of death remains unknown although his friend and podcast co-host Mark Young told TMZ that he was at Woolery’s home in Texas when the former “Wheel” host shared that he wasn’t feeling well.
Woolery went to lie down in his room before sharing that he was having “trouble breathing,” which eventually led to a 911 call.
“Life will not be the same without him,RIP brother,” wrote Young — who hosted the conservative “Blunt Force Truth” podcast alongside Woolery — on X.
Woolery, a U.S. Navy veteran, pursued a music career prior to his game show fame.
Woolery, along with Elkin “Bubba” Fowler, made up the psychedelic pop duo The Avant-Garde as they found success with their song “Naturally Stoned,” which hit No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968.
After “Wheel” creator Merv Griffin saw Woolery sing on “The Tonight Show,” he secured the hosting gig in the early years of the hit game show during its daytime run on NBC.
Woolery left the show in 1981, a decision he later contributed to Griffin creating a “hostile work environment” and a salary dispute with “Wheel” producers.
Sajak took over the “Wheel” gig in a role he held until his retirement this past June.
Woolery, a self-described “Hollywood conservative,” had turned to right-wing podcasting and was a staunch supporter of President-elect Donald Trump in recent years.
In July 2020, Woolery notably shared a baseless claim on X that the Centers for Disease Control, Democrats and doctors were all “lying” about COVID-19. Trump then amplified the claim by sharing the post to his millions of followers on the platform.
Woolery walked back his stance the next day, declaring that COVID-19 was “real” after his son tested positive for the virus.
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“I feel for of those suffering and especially for those who have lost love ones,” Woolery wrote.
Woolery was married four times, mostly recently to his wife Kim Barnes in 2006, and raised eight children/stepchildren.