History of Chuck Woolery in Timeline
Chuck Woolery is a multifaceted American entertainer known for his long and successful career as a game show host, talk show host, actor, and musician. He gained prominence as the original host of iconic game shows such as "Wheel of Fortune", "Love Connection", "Scrabble", "Greed", and "Lingo". Beyond game shows, Woolery enjoyed a musical career that included advertising jingles, a top-40 hit with the psychedelic pop duo The Avant-Garde, and numerous country music releases.
March 16, 1941: Birth of Chuck Woolery
Chuck Woolery was born on March 16, 1941. He would go on to become a notable American game show host, talk show host, actor, and musician.
1963: Wine Consultant and Sales Representative
In 1963, Chuck Woolery worked as a wine consultant for Wasserstrom Wine and Import Company in Columbus, Ohio, and as a sales representative for Pillsbury.
1968: Top 40 Hit with The Avant-Garde
In 1968, Chuck Woolery, as part of the psychedelic pop duo The Avant-Garde, achieved a Top 40 hit with the song "Naturally Stoned."
1970: Signing with RCA and First Single Release
After releasing five records with Columbia, Chuck Woolery signed with RCA in 1970 and released the single "Forgive My Heart."
1971: Co-Writing for Tammy Wynette
In 1971, Chuck Woolery co-wrote "The Joys of Being a Woman" for Tammy Wynette's album We Sure Can Love Each Other.
1971: Release of "Love Me, Love Me"
In 1971, Chuck Woolery released another single titled "Love Me, Love Me," which failed to make a significant impact.
1972: Marriage to Jo Ann Pflug
In 1972, Chuck Woolery married actress Jo Ann Pflug. They had a daughter together named Melissa.
1974: First Game Show Appearance
In 1974, Chuck Woolery made his first game show appearance on an episode of Tattletales alongside then-wife Jo Ann Pflug.
January 6, 1975: Starting as Host of Wheel of Fortune
On January 6, 1975, Chuck Woolery began hosting Wheel of Fortune at the suggestion of creator Merv Griffin.
1975: Hosting Wheel of Fortune
In 1975, Chuck Woolery began his tenure as the original host of Wheel of Fortune, a position he held until 1981.
1977: Return to Singing Career
In the late 1970s, Chuck Woolery returned to his singing career and charted on Hot Country Songs with "Painted Lady" and "The Greatest Love Affair."
1980: Divorce from Jo Ann Pflug
In 1980, Chuck Woolery and Jo Ann Pflug divorced after eight years of marriage.
1980: Low-Charting Singles
Between 1977 and 1980, Chuck Woolery recorded for Warner Bros. Records and Epic Records as a solo artist, producing two low-charting singles on Hot Country Songs.
December 25, 1981: Final Episode of Wheel of Fortune
Chuck Woolery's final episode as the host of Wheel of Fortune aired on December 25, 1981, after a salary dispute with the show's producers.
1981: End of Wheel of Fortune Tenure
Chuck Woolery's tenure as the host of Wheel of Fortune ended in 1981 due to a salary dispute with the show's producers.
1983: Hosting Love Connection
Chuck Woolery began hosting the original incarnation of Love Connection in 1983, continuing until 1994.
1983: Hosting Love Connection
Chuck Woolery started hosting the original incarnation of Love Connection in 1983, a role he continued until 1994.
1984: Hosting Scrabble
Chuck Woolery began hosting the game show Scrabble in 1984, continuing until 1990 and again briefly in 1993.
1984: Hosting Scrabble
Chuck Woolery began hosting the game show Scrabble in 1984, continuing until 1990 and again briefly in 1993.
1985: Hosting The Big Spin
In 1985, Chuck Woolery hosted the game show The Big Spin.
January 1986: Death of Son Chad
In January 1986, Chuck Woolery's son Chad tragically died in a motorcycle accident.
1989: Film Appearance in Cold Feet
In 1989, Chuck Woolery appeared as himself in the film Cold Feet, which starred Keith Carradine and Rip Torn.
1990: End of Scrabble Hosting
Chuck Woolery's initial hosting run of the game show Scrabble ended in 1990, though he would return for a revival in 1993.
1990: End of Scrabble Hosting
Chuck Woolery's initial run as the host of Scrabble ended in 1990, although he would return for a brief revival in 1993.
1991: Hosting The Chuck Woolery Show
In 1991, Chuck Woolery hosted his own talk show, The Chuck Woolery Show, which lasted only a few months.
1993: Scrabble Revival
In 1993, Chuck Woolery hosted a brief revival of the game show Scrabble.
1993: Scrabble Revival
In 1993, Chuck Woolery returned to host a brief revival of the game show Scrabble.
1994: End of Love Connection Tenure
In 1994, Chuck Woolery ended his long-running tenure as the host of Love Connection, which he had started in 1983.
1994: End of Love Connection Tenure
In 1994, Chuck Woolery's long-running stint as the host of Love Connection came to an end.
1996: Co-Hosting Home & Family
From 1996 to 1998, Chuck Woolery co-hosted the show Home & Family.
1997: Hosting The Dating Game
Chuck Woolery began hosting The Dating Game in 1997, continuing until 1999.
1998: End of Home & Family Co-Hosting
In 1998, Chuck Woolery ended his stint as the co-host of Home & Family, which he had started in 1996.
1999: Hosting Greed
Chuck Woolery began hosting the game show Greed on Fox in 1999, continuing until 2000.
1999: Hosting Greed and TV Land Ultimate Fan Search
In 1999, Chuck Woolery started hosting Greed on Fox and the TV Land Ultimate Fan Search, continuing both roles until 2000.
2000: End of Greed and TV Land Ultimate Fan Search Hosting
In 2000, Chuck Woolery's tenure as the host of Greed and the TV Land Ultimate Fan Search came to an end.
2000: End of Greed Hosting
In 2000, Chuck Woolery's tenure as the host of the game show Greed came to an end.
2002: Hosting Lingo
Chuck Woolery began hosting the game show Lingo on the Game Show Network in 2002, continuing until 2007.
2002: Hosting Lingo
In 2002, Chuck Woolery began hosting the game show Lingo on the Game Show Network, a position he held until 2007.
2003: Subject of Reality TV Show
In 2003, Chuck Woolery was the subject of a short-lived reality television show titled Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned.
2006: Marriage to Kim Barnes
In 2006, Chuck Woolery married his fourth wife, Kim Barnes.
2007: End of Lingo Hosting
Chuck Woolery's tenure as the host of the game show Lingo ended in 2007, marking the conclusion of his five-year run on the show.
2007: End of Lingo Hosting
In 2007, Chuck Woolery ended his tenure as the host of the game show Lingo.
2007: Interview on Salary Dispute
In a 2007 interview, Chuck Woolery discussed the salary dispute that led to his departure from Wheel of Fortune in 1981.
April 2008: End of $250,000 Game Show Spectacular
In April 2008, Chuck Woolery's appearances in the live stage show "$250,000 Game Show Spectacular" at the Westgate Las Vegas came to an end.
2012: Hosting Save Us Chuck Woolery
From 2012 to 2014, Chuck Woolery hosted a nationally syndicated radio commentary show, Save Us Chuck Woolery, which grew out of his YouTube videos.
2014: Transition to Blunt Force Truth
In 2014, Chuck Woolery's radio show became a long-format podcast retitled Blunt Force Truth, continuing to air on about 60 radio stations across the country.
May 2017: Antisemitism Accusations
In May 2017, Chuck Woolery faced accusations of antisemitism following a series of tweets claiming that Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin were Jewish, which led to criticism and controversy.
July 12, 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Tweets
On July 12, 2020, Chuck Woolery tweeted that the CDC, doctors, the media, and the Democratic Party were lying about the COVID-19 pandemic. He later revealed his son had tested positive for the virus, acknowledging the pandemic's reality. His Twitter account was subsequently made private.
April 21, 2023: Announcement of Documentary Feature
On April 21, 2023, it was announced that Chuck Woolery would be featured in an upcoming four-episode documentary by ABC News titled The Game Show Show.
May 10, 2023: Premiere of The Game Show Show
The four-part documentary The Game Show Show, featuring Chuck Woolery, premiered on May 10, 2023.