Chuck Woolery, Host of ‘Love Connection,’ Passes Away at 83

Chuck Woolery, the charismatic host of popular television game shows such as Love Connection and Wheel of Fortune, passed away on Saturday at his home in Texas. He was 83 years old.

His death was confirmed by Mark Young, his co-host on the right-wing podcast Blunt Force Truth. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Woolery first rose to fame in the late 1970s as the original host of Wheel of Fortune, one of the longest-running game shows in television history. In the early 1980s, he cemented his status as a household name by hosting Love Connection, a dating show that blended humor, charm, and a bit of drama.

His natural ability to connect with contestants made him a beloved figure. Whether acting as a playful Cupid or stepping in as a referee when arguments broke out, Woolery brought a unique warmth to the screen.

“I felt more like the audience,” he shared in a 2020 interview with journalist Adam Wurtzel. “What would the audience ask? What would the audience feel?”

Beyond his work on Love Connection, Woolery went on to host a variety of other game shows, including Scrabble, Lingo, and Greed. The latter was a high-stakes reimagining of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, featuring team play and even larger cash prizes.

Born Charles Herbert Woolery on March 16, 1941, in Ashland, Kentucky, he was the son of Dan Woolery, a Coca-Cola distributor, and Katherine Woolery. After graduating high school, he served two years in the Navy and worked various jobs before pursuing a career in entertainment.

Moving to Los Angeles, Woolery initially struggled to find success. “I had no idea what I was doing,” he admitted in the same 2020 interview. “I had no money. I had a car and a place I was going to live for a while.”

Woolery’s first major break came as a member of the psychedelic rock duo Avant-Garde, which had a Top 40 hit in 1968 with “Naturally Stoned.” Later, he appeared on children’s TV shows such as New Zoo Revue and recorded several country music singles.

His appearance on The Merv Griffin Show caught the attention of Griffin, who encouraged Woolery to consider hosting game shows. Initially hesitant, Woolery eventually took the role, launching his iconic career.

In 1975, Woolery hosted the inaugural episode of Wheel of Fortune. However, he left the show in 1981 following a contract dispute, and Pat Sajak succeeded him.

Despite the fallout, Woolery spoke fondly of the experience in a 2016 interview, acknowledging the pivotal role Merv Griffin played in his career.

In his later years, Woolery became a controversial figure, co-hosting Blunt Force Truth, a conservative podcast that critiqued liberal ideologies, Hollywood, and the Democratic Party.

He gained attention for his outspoken views on social media, including a widely retweeted claim by then-President Donald Trump in 2020 that “Everyone is lying” about COVID-19. However, his perspective shifted when his own son tested positive for the virus, prompting Woolery to acknowledge its seriousness.

Woolery, who was married multiple times, is survived by his wife, Kristen, and three children—Michael, Melissa, and Sean.

Two of his children, Chad and Katherine, predeceased him. He spent his later years in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, a community he described as “like Bel Air on the lake.”

Chuck Woolery’s legacy is marked by his decades-long impact on television, his outspoken views, and his ability to entertain and connect with audiences, whether on screen or through his podcast.