Charles Herbert Woolery (March 16, 1941 – November 23, 2024) was an American game show host, talk show host, actor, and musician. He had long-running tenures hosting several game shows. Woolery was the original host of the original daytime Wheel of Fortune (1975–1981), the original incarnation of Love Connection (1983–1994), Scrabble (1984–1990, and during a brief revival in 1993), Greed on Fox from 1999 to 2000, and Lingo on Game Show Network from 2002 to 2007. Woolery's musical career includes several advertising jingles, a top-40 pop hit with the psychedelic pop duo The Avant-Garde, and a number of country music releases.
Chuck Woolery | |
|---|---|
 Woolery in 2004 | |
| Born | Charles Herbert Woolery March 16, 1941 Ashland, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | November 23, 2024 (aged 83) Horseshoe Bay, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1963–2024 |
| Notable credits |
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| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | David Nelson (former-father-in-law) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Labels | |
| Formerly of | The Avant-Garde |
Early life
editCharles Herbert Woolery was born in Ashland, Kentucky, on March 16, 1941, the son of Katherine, a homemaker, and Dan Woolery, who owned a fountain supplies company.[1][2][3]
After high school, Woolery served two years in the United States Navy, aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65).[4][5] In 1963, Woolery worked as a wine consultant for Wasserstrom Wine and Import Company in Columbus, Ohio.[citation needed]
Career
editMusic career
editIn the early 1960s, Woolery sang and played the double bass with a folk song trio called The Bordermen. He also sang in a duo called The Avant-Garde who were in the psychedelic pop genre. The other half of the duo was Bubba Fowler. They signed to Columbia Records and had a Top 40 hit with "Naturally Stoned" in 1968, bringing the duo one-hit wonder status.[6] It reached #30 in Canada, October 21, 1968.[7]
As a solo artist, Woolery released five records with Columbia records. After 1970, he signed with RCA and released "Forgive My Heart". In 1971, another single "Love Me, Love Me" failed to make any impact. He then turned to acting.[citation needed]
In the late 1970s, Woolery returned to his singing career. Woolery charted on Hot Country Songs with "Painted Lady" and "The Greatest Love Affair".[8] Between 1977 and 1980, Woolery recorded for Warner Bros. Records and Epic Records as a solo artist, with two low-charting singles on Hot Country Songs.[9] Woolery also co-wrote "The Joys of Being a Woman" on Tammy Wynette's 1971 album We Sure Can Love Each Other.[10]
Acting and television show host
editAs an actor, Woolery appeared with Stephen Boyd, Rosey Grier, and Cheryl Ladd in the mid-1970s film The Treasure of Jamaica Reef.[11]
Woolery performed as Mr. Dingle on the children's television series New Zoo Revue in the early 1970s. During that time, he made his first game show appearance on an episode of Tattletales in 1974, alongside then-wife Jo Ann Pflug. Starting as a singer, Woolery appeared on an episode of Your Hit Parade. On January 6, 1975, he began hosting Wheel of Fortune at the suggestion of creator Merv Griffin, who had seen Woolery sing on The Tonight Show.[12] Woolery hosted the show for six years, and in 1978 was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Game or Audience Participation Show. In 1981, he was involved in a salary dispute with the program's producers; he said in a 2007 interview that he demanded a raise from $65,000 a year to about $500,000 a year because the program was drawing a 44 viewership share at the time, and other hosts (such as Richard Dawson and Bob Barker) were making that much. Griffin offered Woolery $400,000 a year, and NBC offered to pay the additional $100,000, but after Griffin threatened to move the program to CBS, NBC withdrew the offer. Woolery's contract was not renewed and his final episode aired on December 25, 1981.[13] Pat Sajak replaced him.[12]
Woolery hosted Love Connection (1983–1994), The Big Spin (1985), Scrabble (1984–1990, 1993), Home & Family (1996–1998, co-host), The Dating Game (1997–1999), Greed (1999–2000), TV Land Ultimate Fan Search (1999–2000), and Lingo (2002–2007). In addition, he was the subject of a short-lived reality television, Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned (originally titled Chuck Woolery: Behind the Lingo) in 2003.[14] He also hosted his own talk show, The Chuck Woolery Show, which lasted for only a few months in 1991. He hosted The Price Is Right Live! at Harrah's Entertainment casinos, and appeared in the live stage show "$250,000 Game Show Spectacular" at the Westgate Las Vegas until April 2008.[15]
On April 21, 2023, it was announced that Woolery would be featured in an upcoming four-episode documentary by ABC News titled The Game Show Show, covering the history of game shows in America over the last eight decades. The four-part documentary premiered on May 10, 2023.[16] Woolery later hosted '80s Quiz Show, a game show based on trends and norms of the 1980s, which streamed on Fox Nation on June 7, 2024.[17]
Radio and podcast host
editFrom 2012 to 2014, Woolery hosted a nationally syndicated radio commentary show, Save Us Chuck Woolery, which grew out of his YouTube videos. In 2014, the show became a long-format podcast, and was retitled Blunt Force Truth. However, before his death the show could still be heard on about 60 radio stations across the country.[18] With co-host Mark Young, Woolery expanded on his conservative political ideals and current events, often inviting guest experts to join the conversation.[19]
Political views
editWoolery spoke in favor of American conservatism. He was an active supporter of the Republican Party, and had mainly donated to Republican and conservative causes.[20][21] He was a gun rights activist.[22][23]
Woolery was accused of antisemitism after a series of tweets in May 2017, including this message: "Believe it or not. Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin were both Jewish. I was shocked to find, most of the original Soviet Communists were Jewish."[24] The claim that communism is Jewish in origin forms the core of the antisemitic trope called Judeo-Bolshevism. The tweet led to accusations of antisemitism against Woolery.[25] In response to the criticism, Woolery tweeted: "Amazing to me, I point out that Marx and Lenin were Jewish, Fact of history, and now I'm being called anti-Semitic? Why do people do this?"[25]
On July 12, 2020, Woolery tweeted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), doctors, the media, and Democratic Party were lying about the COVID-19 pandemic. Then-president Donald Trump retweeted Woolery's claims.[26][27] The following day, Woolery tweeted that his son had tested positive for the virus and that the "COVID-19 pandemic is real". His Twitter account was later made private before later being made public again.[28][29]
Personal life and death
editWoolery was a Christian who volunteered in ministry.[30] He was married five times and was the father of five children. Woolery and his first wife, Margaret Hayes, had two children together, Katherine and Chad. Chad was killed in a motorcycle accident in January 1986.[31][32] In 1972, he married actress Jo Ann Pflug[32] and had a daughter, Melissa. They divorced in 1980.[32] With third wife Teri Nelson, who is the adopted daughter of actor David Nelson and granddaughter of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, he had two sons, Michael and Sean.[32][33] In 2006, he married Kim Barnes.[32] At the time of his death, it was reported that he was married to a woman named Kristen.[34]
In Woolery's later years, he lived in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, and died at home on November 23, 2024, at the age of 83.[12][35][36]
Filmography
editSource:[37][additional citation(s) needed]
Acting
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | New Zoo Revue | Mr. Dingle | |
| 1973 | Love, American Style | Mr. Thompson | 1 episode, segment: "Love and the Cozy Comrades" |
| 1973 | ABC Saturday Morning Cartoons | Superman | For full preview special Sneak Peek |
| 1974 | Sonic Boom | Pilot Rogers | Short film |
| 1975 | The Treasure of Jamaica Reef | Detective | a.k.a. Evil in the Deep |
| 1978 | A Guide for the Married Woman | Tennis Pro | Television film |
| 1979 | $weepstake$ | Tyler | Episode 4 |
| 1982 | Romance Theatre | "Marisol" Parts 1–5 | |
| 1982 | Six Pack | TV Commentator #2 | |
| 1989 | 227 | Himself | Episode: "A Date to Remember" |
| 1989 | Cold Feet | Himself | Love Connection host on TV |
| 1997 | Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees | Chuck | Cameo as the nightclub owner |
| 2004 | Scrubs | Himself | Season 4 Episode 6 |
Television/radio
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1975–1981 | Wheel of Fortune | Replaced by Pat Sajak |
| 1983–1994 | Love Connection | Host |
| 1984–1990, 1993 | Scrabble | Host |
| 1991 | The Chuck Woolery Show | 65 episodes |
| 1996–1998 | Home & Family | Co-host with Cristina Ferrare |
| 1997–1999 | The Dating Game | Host |
| 1999–2000 | Greed | Host, 44 episodes |
| 1999–2000 | TV Land Ultimate Fan Search | |
| 1999 | Biography | Episode: Bob Barker: Master of Ceremonies |
| 2002–2007 | Lingo | succeeded by Bill Engvall in 2011 |
| 2008 | Think Like a Cat | Host |
| 2012–2014 | Save Us Chuck Woolery (radio show) | Host |
| 2014–2024 | Blunt Force Truth (podcast) | Co-host with Mark Young |
| 2023 | The Game Show Show | Game show documentary |
| 2024 | '80s Quiz Show | Host[17] |
Discography
editSingles
edit| Year | Single | Peak positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Country Songs [9] | |||||||||
| 1977 | "Painted Lady" | 78 | |||||||
| "Take 'Er Down, Boys"[38] | — | ||||||||
| 1980 | "The Greatest Love Affair" | 94 | |||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Famous birthdays for March 16: Lauren Graham, Chuck Woolery - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
- ^ David Baber (2015). Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars. McFarland. p. 269. ISBN 978-1-4766-0480-0.
- ^ "Chuck Woolery, Host of 'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Love Connection,' Dies at 83". Yahoo Entertainment. November 24, 2024.
- ^ Woolery, Chuck 1941– Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ^ Chuck Woolery: Legendary, Emmy Award-Winning Game Show Host Premiere Speakers Bureau. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "The Avant-Garde biography". Allmusic. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
- ^ "RPM Magazine" (PDF). October 21, 1968. p. 5.
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Chuck Woolery Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 474. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ "Tammy Wynette − We Sure Can Love Each Other Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic.
- ^ "Evil in the Deep (1974) | Alternate title: Treasure of Jamaica Reef". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
- ^ a b c Lindner, Emmett (November 24, 2024). "Chuck Woolery, Host of 'Love Connection,' Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ "Woolery Reveals 25-Year Rift With Merv Griffin on 'The Strip'". eMediaWire. November 25, 2007. Archived from the original on November 26, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2007.
- ^ Petrozello, Donna (June 9, 2003). "Woolery chucked into the reality mix". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on February 9, 2006. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ^ "R.I.P. $250,000 Game Show Spectacular". April 30, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ "ABC News Studios Sets The Game Show Show Special (Exclusive)". April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ a b "Watch '80s Quiz Show". Watch '80s Quiz Show | Fox Nation. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ "Two & Two Broadcasting". 2and2broadcasting.com. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ Barnes, Brooks (February 23, 2017). "And Now, Here's Your Right-Wing Podcast Host: Chuck Woolery!". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ Chuck Woolery on Occupy Wall Street, youtube.com (Chuck Woolery statement against Occupy Wall Street); retrieved February 13, 2012
- ^ Christopher, Tommy (February 9, 2012). Mediaite Interviews The Great Chuck Woolery At CPAC, He Is No Fan Of President Obama, Mediaite
- ^ Woolery, Chuck. "Lessons for Shove Guv Andrew Cuomo". SaveUsChuckWoolery.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ "Chuck Woolery on Saving The Second Amendment". Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ Nazaryan, Alexander (May 30, 2017). "Former 'Wheel of Fortune' host Chuck Woolery has been accused of anti-Semitism after controversial tweets". Newsweek.com.
- ^ a b "Former 'Wheel of Fortune' host Chuck Woolery has been accused of anti-Semitism after controversial tweets". Newsweek. May 30, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ Nolan, Emma (July 13, 2020). "Trump Retweets Chuck Woolery Saying 'Everyone is Lying' About Coronavirus". Newsweek. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Trump retweets baseless claim that CDC, doctors are 'lying' about COVID-19 to hurt his campaign". The Week. July 13, 2020.
- ^ Evon, Dan (July 15, 2020). "Did Chuck Woolery Say His Son Tested Positive for COVID-19?". snopes.com. Snopes. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ Chuck Woolery. "Chuck Woolery (@chuckwoolery)". Twitter. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Chuck Woolery ... still making love connections". AskMen.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
- ^ Castro, Peter (March 31, 1997). "The Mourning After". Vol. 47, no. 12.
- ^ a b c d e "A Love Connection for Chuck Woolery". People. July 20, 2006. Archived from the original on May 25, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
- ^ "Marriage Woes for Woolery". FoxNews.com. June 15, 2003. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Kennedy, Mark (November 24, 2024). "Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (November 23, 2024). "Chuck Woolery, Host of 'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Love Connection,' Dies at 83". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ Goldsborough, Bob (January 24, 2022). "'Love Connection' host Chuck Woolery buys one Horseshoe Bay home before selling another". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ "Chuck Woolery". TVGuide.com. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (January 20, 2024). "5 Psychedelic Rock and Country Songs Written by Iconic Game Show Host Chuck Woolery". American Songwriter.
External links
edit
- Chuck Woolery at IMDb
- Chuck Woolery discography at Discogs
- Political podcast co-hosted by Chuck Woolery
