Game Show Host Chuck Woolery, of Love Connection Fame, Dead at 83

Dave Nemetz

24 November 2024 at 2:37 am·1-min read

Veteran game show host Chuck Woolery, who is best known for his years on the syndicated dating show Love Connection, has died at the age of 83, TVLine has confirmed.

Woolery died Saturday at his home in Texas, TMZ reports. “It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my dear brother [Chuck Woolery] has just passed away,” Woolery’s friend and podcast partner Mark Young shared on social media. “Life will not be the same without him.”

More from TVLine

Woolery began his showbiz career as a musician, scoring a Top 40 hit with “Naturally Stoned” in 1968 as half of the duo The Avant-Garde. He transitioned to acting and TV hosting, becoming the first host of Wheel of Fortune when it debuted in 1975. He was replaced by Pat Sajak in 1981, though, following a salary dispute.

Woolery then became the host of Love Connection in 1983, remaining there as emcee until 1994. The show set up singles on dates with one of three prospective partners, with the daters joining Woolery to tell him how their evening went. Woolery would introduce a commercial break with his signature catchphrase, “We’ll be back in two and two.”

The fame from Love Connection led to more game show hosting gigs for Woolery, including a daytime version of Scrabble, based on the popular board game. He also hosted a new take on The Dating Game as well as Fox’s Greed, which launched in 1999 in the wake of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s success and ran for one season.

TV Stars We Lost in 2024

View Gallery105 Images

Best of TVLine

Parade
Mick Jagger, 81, Poses With Lookalike Son, 8, in Rare New Photos
The father of eight shares his youngest son with girlfriend, Melanie Hamrick.
Yahoo Lifestyle
Prince William and Kate Middleton ready to skip royal Christmas amid feud with Camilla's son
Prince William may be set to miss Christmas with his father thanks to a feud with Queen Camilla's son. Read more.
BuzzFeed
My 14-Year-Old Daughter Watched Porn And It Changed Our Lives In Ways I Never Imagined
"As the mother of a girl, I had imagined so many of the difficult conversations and situations I would have with my daughter as she grew to womanhood.... But porn? I never even considered that I would have to have this discussion."
Yahoo Lifestyle
The Project host derails show with X-rated joke: 'Funniest thing I've seen'
Kate Langbroek left her co-hosts in stitches during Tuesday night’s broadcast with a racy comment about ‘blowing bubbles’. Read more.
Yahoo Lifestyle
Controversial MAFS 'villain' tipped to join I'm A Celebrity 2025: 'Infuriate people'
Channel 10 has started dropping clues for which celebrities will be appearing on the upcoming season of I’m A Celebrity. Read more.
BuzzFeed
Parents Are Sharing Things Their Kids Do That They Actually "Hate," And It's Gut-Wrenching
"I hate my son's constant attitude, back talk, disrespect, and just plain disregard for anyone who tries to tell him anything. I thought it was only an issue at home, but it turns out he's like that at school, and he's only 8."
HuffPost
My Dad's Life Fell Apart. When He Died, I Logged Into His Email And Made A Shocking Discovery.
"I cried because I didn’t recognize the man I had unearthed from those years of emails."
BuzzFeed
I Just Spent The Past 15 Minutes With My Jaw On The Floor After Looking At All These Incredible Pictures And Now I Need You To See Them
Now, that is interesting.
InStyle
Princess Eugenie Might Spend Christmas With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
She also received a royal invitation to Sandringham.
Cosmo
Pippa Middleton steals the Royal carol service spotlight with a new bob haircut
Pippa Middleton attends the Royal Christmas service with a new haircut. Her short look couldn't be any more different to her sister, Kate's trademark style.
BuzzFeed
I Don't Think I've Ever Laughed Harder At All These People Who Got Absolutely Roasted Into Oblivion In 2024
Oooof. That stings.
InStyle
Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper Nailed the Stripes Trend With Their Matching Preppy Couple Outfits
The duo stepped out for a double date with Hadid's dad and his girlfriend.
Parade
Jennifer Lopez’s Backless ‘Revenge Dress’ Leaves Fans ‘Gasping’ for Air
The actress put on quite a display with one of her latest glamorous ensembles.
Parade
Kim Kardashian Fans Voice Complaints Over Her New Collab in Busty Photo: 'This Is Ridiculous'
The Skims founder's latest must-have item apparently sold out in a flash.
The Independent
She moved around every few months as a child. Years later, she finally learned her dad’s terrible secret
Her dad had always been intrigued by crime news clippings, a memory that led the 40-year-old to discover that her father had been involved in those crimes
Digital Spy
Vera star shares real reason she's leaving ITV show after 14 years
Vera star Brenda Blethyn has shared the real reason why she has left the ITV show.
InStyle
Kristin Stewart Ditched Her Pants for Winter Sweater Undies
No pants has never looked preppier.
Deadline
Michael Cole Dies: ‘Mod Squad’ Star & ‘General Hospital’ Actor Was 84
Michael Cole, who starred as Pete Cochran on the hit counterculture drama Mod Squad and later played Harlan Barrett on General Hospital during a 50-year acting career, has died. He was 84. His reps at BMF announced the news, but did not provide details. Born July 3, 1940 in Madison WI, Cole was one of …
Motherly
Toddler meets baby brother for the first time—and instantly loses it over a sneeze
Sibling introductions can be a magical time for parents, but as one TikTok video hilariously proves, they can also be unpredictably funny and adorably chaotic.
Yahoo Lifestyle
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry slammed over new Netflix show Polo: 'Not relatable'
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been slammed over their new Netflix show, which many have said isn't relatable. Read more.

Latest stories