Wheel of Fortune's Jim Thornton Suspended, Role Recast — SkimNews
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- Jim Thornton was suspended from "Wheel of Fortune" by Sony Pictures Television, with the show's producer confirming it is recasting the role while it conducts a "thorough investigation" into allegations against him.
- Sony Pictures TV said in a statement that it had "recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton" and confirmed his suspension from the game show, declining further comment.
- TMZ first reported the suspension, alleging the action stemmed from a May incident on a commercial flight in which a passenger expressed concerns to a flight attendant and the pilot called ahead to have law enforcement meet Thornton at the gate.
- Thornton had served as "Wheel of Fortune" announcer since 2010 and joined spinoff "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" in 2021, taking over after the death of predecessor Charlie O'Donnell and also working as a substitute announcer on "The Price Is Right."
- Thornton built a decades-long Los Angeles broadcasting career, joining KNX 1070 Newsradio in 1985 as a traffic reporter, and has won an Edward R. Murrow Award, multiple Golden Mike awards, and an Emmy across stints at KCBS-TV, KCOP-TV, and Westwood One.
Why it matters: Thornton's 15-year run as the voice of one of television's longest-running game shows ends abruptly, and Sony Pictures Television's decision to publicly announce a recast — rather than hold the slot — signals how rapidly networks are moving to address talent-conduct allegations during ongoing investigations rather than waiting for resolution.
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