‘Wheel of Fortune’ Suspends Announcer Jim Thornton, Investigates Allegations Against Him

Longtime “Wheel of Fortune” announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended from the popular game show, while Sony Pictures Television investigates allegations involving the broadcaster.

The studio confirmed on Sept. 1 that Thornton has been removed from the program temporarily and that his announcing duties are being recast while the investigation continues.

“We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton,” a company spokesperson told The Epoch Times in a statement.

“He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune, and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.”  

Sony has not publicly disclosed the nature of the allegations, and it remains unclear how long the suspension will last.

According to TMZ, the allegations stem from an incident involving Thornton on an American Airlines flight in May.

At the time, a passenger raised concerns about Thornton with a flight attendant, leading authorities to meet the aircraft after it landed at Los Angeles International Airport.

American Airlines confirmed that Flight 1276, which arrived at LAX on May 14, was met by law enforcement following concerns reported by a passenger.

The airline did not identify Thornton or provide additional details about the circumstances.

Speaking to TMZ, Thornton’s attorney disputed any suggestion that his client engaged in criminal conduct, adding that Thornton was not arrested or charged, and he was questioned by law enforcement for only a short time before being allowed to leave.

As of Sept. 1, Thornton appeared in at least one “Wheel of Fortune” episode since news of his suspension became public; however, episodes are typically pre-recorded before live airtime.

The Epoch Times reached out to representatives for Thornton for comment on the matter, but did not hear back by publication time.

Thornton has been a familiar voice on “Wheel of Fortune” for more than a decade. He joined the syndicated game show in 2011, following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell, who worked on the show from 1975 to 1980 and returned in 1989 to 2010.

His distinctive delivery became part of the program’s opening and prize announcements, and he also worked on the show’s primetime “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” edition.

Beyond the game show, Thornton has worked in radio and television, contributing his voice work to several entertainment productions.

His credits include “Monsters, Inc.,” “The Cleveland Show,” “Celebrity Deathmatch,” among other announcing duties for separate television programs such as “The Price is Right.”