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Chuck Woolery

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Chuck Woolery
Woolery in 2004
Born
Charles Herbert Woolery[1]

(1941-03-16)March 16, 1941
Ashland, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedNovember 23, 2024(2024-11-23) (aged 83)
Texas, U.S.
Occupations
  • Television host
  • singer
  • actor
Years active1963–2024
Notable credits
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Margaret Hayes
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1961; div. 1971)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1972; div. 1980)​
  • Teri Nelson
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1985; div. 2004)​
  • Kim Barnes
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2006; div. 2016)​
Children5
Musical career
GenresPsychedelic pop, country
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
LabelsColumbia, Warner, Epic
Formerly ofThe Avant-Garde

Charles Herbert Woolery (March 16, 1941[2] – 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.

Early life

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Charles Herbert Woolery was born in Ashland, Kentucky on March 16, 1941.[1]

After high school, Woolery served two years in the U.S. Navy, aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65).[3][4] In 1963, Woolery worked as a wine consultant for Wasserstrom Wine and Import Company in Columbus, Ohio.

Career

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Music career

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In 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.[5]

As a solo artist, Woolery released five records with Columbia. 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.

In the late 1970s, Woolery returned to his singing career. Woolery charted on Hot Country Songs with "Painted Lady" and "The Greatest Love Affair".[6] 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.[7] Woolery also co-wrote "The Joys of Being a Woman" on Tammy Wynette's 1971 album We Sure Can Love Each Other.[8]

Acting and television show host

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As an actor, Woolery appeared with Stephen Boyd, Rosey Grier, and Cheryl Ladd in the mid-1970s film The Treasure of Jamaica Reef.[9] He appeared as himself in the 1989 film Cold Feet that starred Keith Carradine and Rip Torn.[10]

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. Woolery hosted the show for six years. 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 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. Pat Sajak replaced him.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13]

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.[14] Woolery later hosted '80s Quiz Show, a game show based on trends and norms of the 1980's, which streamed on Fox Nation on June 7, 2024.[15]

Radio and podcast host

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From 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, the show can still be heard on about 60 radio stations across the country.[16] With co-host Mark Young, Woolery expands on his conservative political ideals and current events, often inviting guest experts to join the conversation.[17]

Political views

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Woolery spoke in favor of American conservatism. He was an active supporter of the Republican Party, and had mainly donated to Republican and conservative causes.[18][19] He was a gun rights activist.[20][21]

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."[22] The claim that communism is Jewish in origin forms the core of the antisemitic canard called Judeo-Bolshevism. The tweet led to accusations of antisemitism against Woolery.[23] In response to the criticism, Woolery tweeted: "Amazing to me, I point out that Marx and Lenin were Jewish, Fact [sic] of history, and now I'm being called anti-Semitic? Why do people do this?"[23]

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.[24][25] 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 again public.[26][27]

Personal life

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Woolery was a Christian who volunteered in ministry.[28] He had been married four 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.[29][30] In 1972, he married actress Jo Ann Pflug[30] and they divorced in 1980. They had a daughter together, Melissa.[30] 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.[30][31] In 2006, Woolery married Kim Barnes.[30]

Woolery died at his home in Texas on November 23, 2024.[32][33]

Filmography

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Acting

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Year Title Role Notes
1972 New Zoo Revue Mr. Dingle
1973 Love, American Style Mr. Thompson 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 Also known as Evil in the Deep
1978 A Guide for the Married Woman Tennis Pro Made for television
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[34]
1997 Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees Chuck Cameo as the nightclub owner
2004 Scrubs Himself Season 4 Episode 6

Television/radio

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Year Title Notes
1975–81 Wheel of Fortune Replaced by Pat Sajak
1983–94 Love Connection Host
1984–90, 1993 Scrabble Host
1991 The Chuck Woolery Show 65 episodes
1996–98 Home & Family Co-host with Cristina Ferrare
1997–99 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
2002–07 Lingo succeeded by Bill Engvall in 2011
2008 Think Like a Cat Host
2012–2014 Save Us Chuck Woolery (radio show) Host
2014–present Blunt Force Truth (podcast) Co-host with Mark Young
2023 The Game Show Show Game show documentary
2024 '80s Quiz Show Host[15]

Discography

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Singles

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Year Single Peak positions
Hot Country Songs
[7]
1977 "Painted Lady" 78
"Take 'Er Down, Boys"[35] —
1980 "The Greatest Love Affair" 94
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b David Baber (2015). Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars. McFarland. p. 269. ISBN 978-1-4766-0480-0.
  2. ^ "Famous birthdays for March 16: Lauren Graham, Chuck Woolery - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Woolery, Chuck 1941– Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Chuck Woolery: Legendary, Emmy Award-Winning Game Show Host Premiere Speakers Bureau. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  5. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "The Avant-Garde biography". Allmusic. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  6. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Chuck Woolery Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 474. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  8. ^ "Tammy Wynette - We Sure Can Love Each Other Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  9. ^ "Evil in the Deep Alternate title: Treasure of Jamaica Reef (1974)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  10. ^ "Cold Feet (1989)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "R.I.P. $250,000 Game Show Spectacular". April 30, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  14. ^ "ABC News Studios Sets The Game Show Show Special (Exclusive)". April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Watch '80s Quiz Show". Watch '80s Quiz Show | Fox Nation. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  16. ^ "Two & Two Broadcasting". 2and2broadcasting.com. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  17. ^ Barnes, Brooks (February 23, 2017). "And Now, Here's Your Right-Wing Podcast Host: Chuck Woolery!". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  18. ^ Chuck Woolery on Occupy Wall Street, youtube.com (Chuck Woolery statement against Occupy Wall Street); retrieved February 13, 2012
  19. ^ Christopher, Tommy (February 9, 2012). Mediaite Interviews The Great Chuck Woolery At CPAC, He Is No Fan Of President Obama, Mediaite
  20. ^ Woolery, Chuck. "Lessons for Shove Guv Andrew Cuomo". SaveUsChuckWoolery.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  21. ^ "Chuck Woolery on Saving The Second Amendment". Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  22. ^ Nazaryan, Alexander (May 30, 2017). "Former 'Wheel of Fortune' host Chuck Woolery has been accused of anti-Semitism after controversial tweets". Newsweek.com.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ "Trump retweets baseless claim that CDC, doctors are 'lying' about COVID-19 to hurt his campaign". The Week. July 13, 2020.
  26. ^ Evon, Dan (July 15, 2020). "Did Chuck Woolery Say His Son Tested Positive for COVID-19?". snopes.com. Snopes. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  27. ^ Chuck Woolery. "Chuck Woolery (@chuckwoolery)". Twitter.com. Twitter. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  28. ^ "Chuck Woolery ... still making love connections". AskMen.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
  29. ^ Castro, Peter (March 31, 1997). "The Mourning After". Vol. 47, no. 12.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ "Marriage Woes for Woolery". FoxNews.com. June 15, 2003. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  32. ^ @MarkYoungTruth (November 24, 2024). "Chuck Woolery Death Announcement" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ Kennedy, Mark. "Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 - AP News Entertainment". Associated Press. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  34. ^ "Cold Feet (1989) - Cast, Credits & Awards". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  35. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (January 20, 2024). "5 Psychedelic Rock and Country Songs Written by Iconic Game Show Host Chuck Woolery". American Songwriter.
[edit]
Media offices
Preceded byas host of the 1974
pilot of Wheel of Fortune 		Host of Wheel of Fortune (daytime)
January 6, 1975–December 25, 1981 		Succeeded by
New show Host of Love Connection
1983–1995 		Succeeded by
Host of The Big Spin
1985 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of Lingo
2002–2007 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chuck_Woolery&oldid=1259271702"