Wheel of Fortune’s Charlie O’Donnell Dies

Tuesday, 02 November 2010 | by Pat's Picks

One of the legends of the game show business has died. “Wheel of Fortune” announcer Charlie O’Donnell died in his sleep of heart failure at his home in California, reports the Orange County Register. I have vivid memories of Jack Clark’s time as Wheel’s announcer, but O’Donnell was first. He initiated the role in 1975, then left the show in the 80s, only to return upon the death of Clark. Charlie O’Donnell was also the voice of Dick Clark’s American Bandstand for a decade. He was 78.

More about O’Donnell’s career from Wikipedia

Check out O’Donnell at 7m45s of this YouTube clip:

(Photo from Sony Pictures)