Triumphant game show host Chuck Woolery faced tragedy during his successful career.
November 24, 2024, published at 12:00 PM ET
Chuck Woolery, legendary host of Love connection And Wheel of Fortuneleft behind a legacy of highs and lows before he recently passed away at the age of 83.
In the wake of his death, RadarOnline.com can reveal that the beloved emcee, who shifted his focus to politics in the later years of his career, also faced significant issues in the spotlight — including a suicide attempt, fatherhood despair and a heart crisis ,
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The beloved host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’ passed away at the age of 83.
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News of the veteran game show host’s death was announced by his friend Mark Young, who wrote on X: “It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my dear brother @chuckwoolery has just passed away. Life won’t be the same without him, RIP brother.”
It has since been confirmed that Woolery died at his home in Texas after struggling with breathing difficulties.
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Woolery previously felt “lucky to be alive” after undergoing major heart surgery during his prime.
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Together with conducting Love connection For more than a decade, Woolery was also best known for its hosting Wheel of Fortune from 1975 to 1981 – before Pat Sajak took over.
He was also a host Scrabbleone season of The Chuck Woolery Showand the original version of the daytime talk show Home & Family on the Family Channel.
He was also a host The dating gamethe primetime game show GreedAnd Language use on the Game Show Network.
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In recent years he gained fame as a conservative talk show host and commentator.
He co-hosted the Blunt force truth podcast with Mark Young and radio show host Save us Chuck Woolery.
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However, Woolery’s life was not all about money and prizes.
27 years ago, the beloved TV personality revealed that he had a fatal heart disease that nearly took his life.
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Woolery called his third wife Teri Nelson his “angel” when dealing with hardships in his past.
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Woolery’s career came to a halt after he developed breathing problems and chest pain, leaving him “shocked” when his doctor told him he needed a quadruple heart bypass.
After having the major surgery and taking a break from hosting Love connectionhe said he was “lucky to be alive” and ready to jump back into the bag.
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Woolery added: “The operation was scary. But thanks to the miracle of modern medicine, I’m as good as new and want to be a matchmaker again. It’s the best job in the world.”
His determination got him through the surgery with flying colors, and he even lost a healthy 15 pounds with diet and exercise.
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But the game show host had always been a survivor.
In 1980, he attempted suicide by overdosing on pills and was saved when his friend Pat Boone called 911.
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The game show host previously attempted suicide and was faced with the tragic loss of his teenage son.
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Six years later, he faced despair again when his 19-year-old son died in a motorcycle accident.
However, the distraught Woolery learned how to deal with loss – thanks in large part to his then-wife Teri Nelson, whom he called “his angel.”
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Ultimately, Woolery wanted participants to participate Love connection to find their soulmates like he found Nelson.
He said, “No one should be lonely. No one should live a loveless life. I want all single people to end up happily married.”
Teri was Woolery’s third wife and the two officially ended their marriage in 2004.