@chuckwoolery TheOfficialChuckWoolery
“Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith; life will not be the same without him”
On November 23, 2024, Chuck Herbert Woolery passed peacefully from this world into the next. He is survived by his wife Kristin, sons Michael and Sean and his daughter Melissa.
Chuck never set out to become a member of the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame. In fact, if there was a book written about Chuck’s life, it would be called, “Accidental Celebrity”. Hosting wasn’t even on his radar when he first found himself in front of the camera on Wheel of Fortune. But with his easy charm and quick wit, it didn’t take long before audiences felt like they’d known him forever. That connection—effortless, genuine—would go on to define a career that spanned decades, making Chuck one of the most recognizable and beloved figures in American television.
Born March 16, 1941, in Ashland, Kentucky, Chuck was shaped by a small-town Southern upbringing rooted in humility, respect, and straight-shooting honesty. Friends and colleagues alike remember his sharp sense of humor, his impeccable manners, and his surprising attention to detail. And those who knew him personally will tell you that he was exactly the same off camera as he was on. Whether it was the perfect suit with a charming smile, a perfectly set dinner table, or a perfectly timed joke.
Although Chuck came from humble roots, as he grew into his own, he developed a love for the finer things in life. Ask anyone who saw his wardrobe, stepped into his home, or sat at his dinner table. He could cook, decorate, host, and tell a story with equal style.
What most people didn’t always get to see was his generosity. He never hesitated to stop for a photo, chat with a stranger, or help a friend in need. Chuck believed every interaction had the potential to be meaningful; a value he held in high regard and shaped in part by his appreciation and admiration for strong, principled men who lived with conviction, men like John Wayne.
It was Chuck’s values, morals, faith, and purpose-driven outlook on life that helped him carry himself with quiet strength and resolve when he experienced loss and heartbreak. No matter what was happening in his personal life, he always came through, time and time again, prepared, and professional.
Chuck Woolery’s story is more than a list of credits and accolades. It’s the story of a man who never chased fame but earned it by being exactly who he was. Gentle at heart. A performer by instinct. A host by nature. And, above all, a man who made people feel seen, heard, and remembered.
He could make anyone feel welcome – it was his superpower.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and by those who simply felt like they did.
Chuck Herbert Woolery
March 16,1941 – November 23, 2024