FOR over 40 years, Pat Sajak and Vanna White have been the faces of Wheel of Fortune, but before them, there was another iconic duo at the helm.
As Pat prepares for retirement, fans want to know more about the show’s original host.
Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford seen on the set of Wheel of Fortune in 1976
Who was the original host of Wheel of Fortune?
Wheel of Fortune is a popular game show where contestants guess hidden phrases one letter at a time.
The show first premiered in 1975 and was hosted by Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford.
They began hosting the show in 1975 but left in 1981 after having a salary dispute with the show’s creator, Merv Griffin, and NBC, according to Paley Matters.
Woolery wanted his pay to go from $5,000 per week to $10,000 per week.
Griffin offered $7,500 and NBC said they would pay the rest, but that offer was rescinded when Griffin threatened to move the show to CBS.
Woolery left the show after his final episode on December 25, 1981.
Where is Chuck Woolery now?
After leaving Wheel of Fortune behind, Woolery went on to host the dating show Love Connection from 1983 to 1994.
He also served as the host for other shows like The Big Spin, Scrabble, Home & Family, The Dating Game, Greed, TV Land Ultimate Fan Search, and Lingo.
In recent years, Woolery has shied away from the spotlight, but he’s made a few appearances on Fox and Friends, and The Game Show Show.
When he’s not on set, he can often be found at home, spending time with his wife, Kim Woolery, and his children.
Chuck Woolery left Wheel of Fortune in 1981
What happened to Susan Stafford?
Stafford left Hollywood after Wheel of Fortune to focus on her other passions.
“I mean, for seven years I stood there and turned letters,” she told The Chicago Tribune in 1987.
”I had to ask myself if that was any way for a grown woman to live her life.”
Nowadays, she can be found working as a pastoral care educator and hosting the podcast, Out of the Box With Susan Stafford.
In 2010, she also released a memoir, Stop the Wheel, I Want to Get Off!, regarding her time on the show.
While Stafford might’ve enjoyed her time on the show, she ultimately left with no regrets.
”I’ve never felt nostalgic,” she explained.
”I’m surprised that they haven’t changed the format. Actually, when I’ve watched the show, I have felt a sort of relief. Relief that I don’t have to do that anymore.”
