The sad news was confirmed by Mark Young, a close friend of Woolery's who hosted the podcast Blunt Force Truth with him. He told the Associated Press that Woolery passed away at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, by his side, saying, "Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him."

Chuck Woolery, the original host of "Wheel of Fortune" who was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame and later became a frequent presence on right-wing media, died Saturday at his home in Texas.

The hit dating show, which helped revive Woolery's career, was one of the most popular game shows of the 1980s and '90s.