Woolery passed away on November 23 at his home in Texas, leaving behind a legacy spanning decades of television.

Mark Young, Woolery’s longtime friend and podcast cohost, shared details about his final moments.

According to Young, Woolery was at home with his wife when he began feeling unwell and decided to lie down.

Concerned, his wife checked on him and found him struggling to breathe. Despite calling 911, Woolery could not be saved.

Young later paid tribute to his friend on X (formerly Twitter), posting photos of their time together and expressing his grief.

He described Woolery as a “dear brother” and said life wouldn’t be the same without him, adding, “RIP, brother.”

Joe Dan Gorman, a friend and colleague, shared an old clip of them working together and reflected on the profound impact Woolery had on his life.

In his post, Gorman noted that Woolery lived an “amazing, almost fairytale life” but remained grounded and devoted to his faith.

He called Woolery “one of eastern Kentucky’s finest products,” and added, “Thank you, Chuck. Chuck Woolery was my friend.”

Beyond the game show circuit, Woolery made memorable guest appearances on TV, showing up as himself in sitcoms like “227,” “Scrubs” and “Melrose Place” and in the comedy film “Cold Feet.”

A man of many talents, he also pursued a modest country music career before fully embracing his role in entertainment.

In his later years, Woolery brought his voice to the world of podcasting, cohosting “Blunt Force Truth” alongside Young, where he showcased his wit and unique perspective.

Hosting “Wheel of Fortune” wasn’t on Woolery’s radar when his career began—he was focused on music.

But fate had other plans. Woolery credited Jonathan Wyner for the unexpected opportunity that would change his life.

According to Woolery, it all started when Wyner invited him to perform on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

His musical performance caught the attention of Merv Griffin, who asked him to stay for another week to appear on his show.

During his visit, Griffin and Woolery spent time chatting on set, and the host noticed Woolery’s charisma.

Griffin then posed a question that would alter Woolery’s path forever. He asked if he would consider being a game show host. Woolery said yes, and the rest is history.

Woolery became the first host of “Wheel of Fortune,” a show where contestants guess letters to solve word puzzles and win prizes ranging from cash to cars and vacations by spinning a wheel.

The top-scoring player moves on to a bonus round for even bigger rewards. The show, now a staple in American television, continues to thrive decades later.

Woolery’s success extended to “Love Connection,” another game show that added a different kind of drama.

This program paired singles with potential dates, with the audience voting on who they thought was the best match.

If the contestant agreed, the show would fund their first date, and the couple would later return to share how it went—whether it was a fairy tale or a disaster.

However, Woolery admitted his time on the dating show came with challenges.

Reflecting on his later years, he described the final two seasons as a “constant battle.”

He explained that the audience’s curiosity about whether the couples had taken their connection further created unnecessary pressure.

Woolery questioned the point of making such private matters public, a tension that weighed heavily on him as the show evolved.

In a past interview, Woolery reflected on how his father shaped his personality and career.

He shared that his father, a salesman with a likable nature, left him a gift far more valuable than material things.

“If my father left anything for me, it was that kind of likable, genuine personality that I think he had,” Woolery said. He credited this influence as a key part of his own on-screen charm.

However, despite his professional success, Woolery faced immense personal hardship.

In January 1986, tragedy struck when his 19-year-old son, Chad, died in a motorcycle accident in California.

Woolery recalled how, just before the accident, he had told Chad not to ride the motorcycle and urged him to drive the car he had just bought for him.