Veteran game show host Chuck Woolery, renowned for his time on the syndicated dating show Love Connection, has passed away at the age of 83, according to TVLine.
Woolery died on Saturday at his Texas residence, as initially reported by TMZ. His close friend and podcast co-host, Mark Young, expressed his sorrow in a heartfelt social media post: “It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my dear brother [Chuck Woolery] has just passed away. Life will not be the same without him.”
Woolery’s entertainment journey began in music, where he achieved a Top 40 hit with “Naturally Stoned” in 1968 as a member of The Avant-Garde. He later transitioned to television, becoming the first host of Wheel of Fortune when it premiered in 1975. Woolery exited the show in 1981 following a salary dispute, paving the way for Pat Sajak. In 1983, Woolery took on hosting duties for Love Connection, a role he held until 1994. The show became famous for pairing singles on dates and featuring post-date discussions. Woolery’s signature phrase, “We’ll be back in two and two,” became iconic.
His success with Love Connection opened doors to additional game show roles, including hosting a daytime version of Scrabble, a revamped Dating Game, and the Fox game show Greed, which aired in 1999 for one season, following the popularity of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.