Chuck Woolery, Original 'Wheel Of Fortune' Host And Game Show Icon, Dead At 83

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 22: Host of the Game Show Network Show, Lingo Chuck Woolery poses on the set October 22, 2003 in Los Angeles California.(Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images for the Game Show Network)Carlo Allegri via Getty ImagesChuck 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.Advertisement 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.It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my dear brother @chuckwoolery has just passed away.

Life will not be the same without him,RIP brother pic.twitter.com/OVPgG195RX— Dr.Mark Young (@MarkYoungTruth) November 24, 2024Advertisement 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.He released music as a solo artist during his run on “Wheel of Fortune,” as well.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 ru...