The world of showbusiness is in mourning amid news that a beloved television personality whose career spanned several decades has passed away at the age of 83.

As TMZ reports, Chuck Woolery, known for serving as the original host of Wheel of Fortune and for time spent at the helm of Love Connection, Scrabble, and other popular game shows, died over the weekend at home in Texas.

Friend confirms sad news

Mark Young, Woolery's friend and podcast co-host offered details of what occurred, explaining that the tv legend indicated that he was feeling poorly and decided to lie down for a rest.

Not long after, Woolery returned to the room where Young was and noted that he was experiencing breathing difficulty.

Those present summoned assistance by calling 911, but Woolery did not survive, and according to Young, both he and Woolery's wife were close by at the time of the star's passing.

Young took to X to announce the sad news, writing, “it is with a broken heart that I tell you that my dear brother @chuckwoolery has just passed away. Life will not be the same without him. RIP brother.”

Storied television career unfolds

Woolery was born in Ashland, Kentucky, going on to spend two years at the University of Kentucky and two years in the Navy before moving on to pursue a career in music and entertainment, as People notes.

In what was his big break into the world of showbusiness, in 1975, Woolery was hired by Merv Griffin to host a new game show, Wheel of Fortune, and he held that role until 1982, when a contract dispute sent him packing.

Another successful television hosting turn was just around the corner, however, with Woolery assuming hosting duties on Love Connection, which gained a significant fan base and was forerunner to many of today's reality dating shows.

Woolery's career also included hosting duties on game shows such as Scrabble and The Big Spin, though explained to People that The Love Connection was the program he found most entertaining, declaring, “I really like its unpredictability.”

1991 saw Woolery trying his hand at a solo talk show titled The Chuck Woolery Show, later hosting a revival of The Dating Game as well as programs Lingo and Greed, and he also made several guests appearances on popular sitcoms Scrubs and 227, playing himself.

Clearly a fan of the reality genre, the longtime host and his family were featured in 2003's Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned, a show based on their daily lives, and at the time, he said, “When they wanted to do this, I thought, I can't imagine anybody would watch my life. But after we got into it, I thought, 'If it's funny, they'll watch.'”

A legacy to remember

Woolery is survived by current wife Kim Barnes as well as several children from multiple prior marriages. He was predeceased by a son, Chad Woolery, who died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 19 in 1985.

In his later years, Woolery was a vocal supporter of the Republican Party and of the conservative movement, and he leaves a legacy that includes not just countless hours of television entertainment, but also a proud commitment to enduring principles shared by millions.