November 24th 2024.
The world of entertainment has lost a beloved figure as Chuck Woolery, the charming and smooth-talking host of popular game shows like "Wheel of Fortune," "Love Connection," and "Scrabble," has passed away at the age of 83. Mark Young, Woolery's friend and co-host of his podcast, shared the sad news in an email on Sunday, revealing that Woolery died peacefully at his home in Texas with his wife Kristen by his side. Young fondly remembers Woolery as a dear friend, brother, and a man of great faith, and shares that his absence will be deeply felt.
Woolery's career in the entertainment industry spanned several decades, and he had many accomplishments to his name. In 2007, he was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame, and he also received a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He hosted popular game shows such as "Love Connection," where he coined the phrase "We'll be back in two minutes and two seconds," and "Scrabble," all while maintaining his signature witty banter and effortless charm.
One of Woolery's most notable hosting gigs was "Love Connection," a show that predated the world of online dating. The premise of the show involved a single man or woman watching audition tapes of three potential dates and choosing one to go on a date with. The couple would then return to the show a couple of weeks later to share their experience with Woolery and the studio audience, who would then vote on whether they thought the chosen date was a good match. If the audience agreed, the show would offer to pay for a second date. Woolery shared in an interview that his favorite couple on the show was a 91-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman, who went on a balloon ride for their date.
Apart from his hosting gigs, Woolery also had other career highlights, including hosting shows like "Lingo," "Greed," and "The Chuck Woolery Show." He also hosted the short-lived revival of "The Dating Game" from 1998 to 2000 and made guest appearances on popular shows like "Melrose Place." In 1992, he even had his own reality show called "Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned," which was named after the hit song he co-wrote and performed with his rock group, The Avant-Garde.
Woolery's career began on a show that has now become a staple in the world of game shows. He was initially hired to welcome contestants and the audience on the first episode of "Wheel of Fortune," which debuted on NBC in 1975. The show was initially called "Shopper's Bazaar" and had a format that combined Hangman-style puzzles with a roulette wheel. Woolery was approached to host the show after his appearance on "The Merv Griffin Show," where he sang "Delta Dawn." He accepted the offer and co-hosted the show with Susan Stafford. However, after a few years, he demanded a raise and was replaced by Pat Sajak.
Woolery's talents weren't just limited to hosting game shows, as he also had a successful music career. He played double bass in a folk trio and formed a psychedelic rock duo called The Avant-Garde in 1967. The group had a Top 40 hit with the song "Naturally Stoned," which featured Woolery on lead vocals. After the group disbanded, Woolery pursued a solo career and released several singles with Columbia Records. He then transitioned to country music in the 1970s and continued to write and perform songs, even penning lyrics for artists like Tammy Wynette.
In his later years, Woolery ventured into podcasting, where he shared his conservative views and support for former President Donald Trump. He co-hosted the podcast "Blunt Force Truth" with Mark Young, and often expressed his opinions on social media, retweeting articles from conservative sources and criticizing the Democratic party. However, his stance on the COVID-19 pandemic caused controversy when he initially accused medical professionals and Democrats of lying about the virus. He later changed his stance after his son tested positive for the virus, and he publicly acknowledged the severity of the situation.
Woolery is survived by his wife Kristen, his sons Michael and Sean, and his daughter Melissa. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and fans alike.
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