Long time game show host Chuck Woolery died November 23, 2024 in his Horseshoe Bay, Texas home at the age of 83. An official cause of death was not given. Friend and podcast co-host Mark Young said that Woolery died with his wife at his side.
After leaving television, Woolery launched a podcast with Young called “Blunt Force Truth” where they took a right-wing stance and even accused the government of lying about the COVID-19 virus.
A member of the Game Show Hall of Fame, Woolery received only one Daytime Emmy Award nomination during his career.
A career that began in 1983 as the host of the dating show “The Love Connection”. A year later he became the host of “Scrabble” and hosted both shows for the next six years. While puzzle fans know Pat Sajak as the long time host of “Wheel of Fortune”, Chuck Woolery was the show’s original host when it went on the air in 1975.
As himself, Woolery appeared in over 70 productions including the game shows “Tattletales”, “Match Game”, “The Hollywood Squares”, and “The New Hollywood Squares” as a panelist, “Greed: The Series”, and “Lingo”.
As himself, he also appeared in his 1965 debut on “The Jimmy Dean Show”, “The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson”, “Your Hit Parade”, “The Merv Griffin Show” which led to his hosting “Wheel of Fortune”, “The Mike Douglas Show”, “Dinah”, “Late Night with David Letterman”, and as host on “The Chuck Woolery Show”.
And while not known for his acting skills he did appear in 19 productions including his 1971 debut as Mr. Dingle in the “New Zoo Revue”, “Love, American Style”, “CHiPS”, “Romance Theatre”, “227”, “Melrose Place”, “Sister, Sister”, “Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees”, “Scrubs”, and “The Cleveland Show”.
Charles Herbert Woolery was born on March 16, 1941 in Ashland, Kentucky where he had dreams of becoming a musician. Joining the United States Navy out of high school. After his military service, Woolery attended college and returned to playing music. He formed a band called Avant Garde in Nashville. The band had a hit with the song “Naturally Stoned”.
When the band broke up, Woolery launched a solo career where he released a number of singles. He also penned a number of songs for other artists including Tammy Ynette and Pat Boone.
Predeceased by son Chad, Woolery is survived by his fourth wife Kim and children Michael, Sean, and Melissa.
Feature photo credit: Chuck Woolery 2004 cropped.jpg