Charlie O'Donnell
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Charlie O'Donnell (born August 12, 1932) is a television announcer best known for his work on Wheel of Fortune. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1932.
O'Donnell began his career in 1958, working with Dick Clark on American Bandstand. This led to several stints as a disc jockey on Los Angeles radio (most notably on legendary Pasadena station KRLA), and later as news anchorman on Southern California television, working on KCOP-TV 13 (the home of The Joker's Wild and Tic Tac Dough during its initial syndicated reigns).
He also made a full-time career as an announcer on many television shows throughout the decades, with such series as The Joker's Wild, Tic Tac Dough, Card Sharks and The $100,000 Pyramid (again working with Dick Clark). He has also served as announcer for the American Music Awards, the Emmy Awards and the Academy Awards.
He may be best known as the announcer for Wheel of Fortune. O'Donnell has served as the show's announcer from 1975 (introducing the show until the early-1990s as "Wheeeeeeellllllll of Fortune"), with the exception of a period from 1980-88 when Jack Clark and M.G. Kelly served as announcers (due to a commitment to Pyramid and before that with Barry & Enright and later Chuck Barris Productions). Following the death of Clark in 1988, O'Donnell returned as permanent Wheel announcer. The 2006-07 season marks Charlie's 18th year on the syndicated version, and his 24th year overall.
Among the game show companies O'Donnell worked for as a primary announcer includes Merv Griffin Productions (1975-80 and 1989-present), Barry & Enright Productions (1981-86), and Chuck Barris Productions (1986-89). Charlie has also announced game shows for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions (Card Sharks, Trivia Trap, Family Feud, To Tell The Truth); Bob Stewart Productions, and for Hill-Eubanks Group's All Star Secrets and The Guinness Game.
