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| Charlie O'Donnell | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 12, 1932 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Announcer |
| Years active | 1958–present |
Charlie O'Donnell (born August 12, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American television announcer best known for his work on Wheel of Fortune.
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 Los Angeles television station KCOP-TV. His newscasts perhaps precipitated the joke where Announcer Charlie O'Donnell introduced Newscaster Charlie O'Donnell with the news. "Thank you Charlie, and here, now, the news . . ." KCOP was 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, Bullseye, 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, with the exception of a period from 1980 to 1988 when Jack Clark and M.G. Kelly served as announcers. Several months following the death of Clark in 1988, O'Donnell returned as permanent Wheel announcer, having also filled in when Clark was unavailable.
Among the game show companies O'Donnell worked for as a primary announcer are Stefan Hatos-Monty Hall Productions (1973-1977), Merv Griffin Enterprises/Sony Pictures Television (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.
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