Wheel of Fortune is preparing to use a different voice behind the wheel after Sony Pictures Television suspended longtime announcer Jim Thornton.
Thornton, 61, has been the syndicated game show’s announcer since 2011. Sony confirmed his suspension on Sept. 1, saying it had recently learned of allegations concerning him and was “recasting” the position while conducting an investigation.
The studio has not publicly described those allegations. TMZ, which first reported the suspension, says the investigation is connected to a May incident aboard an American Airlines flight after another passenger raised concerns about Thornton with a flight attendant.
Thornton’s attorney says he did nothing illegal and was neither arrested nor charged.
Sony Says It Is Recasting While the Investigation Continues
Sony Pictures Television said it had “recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton.” The studio suspended him from Wheel of Fortune and said it was recasting while carrying out what it called a thorough investigation.
No replacement has been announced, and Sony has not publicly given a timetable for the investigation or described what conduct prompted the suspension. Entertainment Weekly separately obtained the same Sony statement and reported that the studio did not provide a reason for or length of the suspension.
American Airlines Confirms Law Enforcement Met a May 14 Flight at LAX
TMZ reports that Thornton was aboard a commercial flight in May when another passenger complained about him to a flight attendant. Sources with direct knowledge told the outlet that the pilot arranged for law enforcement to meet Thornton after the aircraft reached Los Angeles.
American Airlines independently confirmed one part of that account without identifying Thornton. “On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) following concerns reported by a customer onboard,” the airline told Entertainment Weekly. TMZ reports that officers questioned Thornton before he was allowed to leave.
Thornton’s Attorney Says He Was Not Arrested or Charged
After the initial suspension story was published, Thornton’s attorney disputed any suggestion that the announcer had committed a crime. The lawyer told TMZ that Thornton “did not engage in any illegal conduct” and stressed that he was not arrested and has not been charged.
According to the attorney, law enforcement spoke with Thornton for five minutes or less and then allowed him to leave. Thornton nevertheless appeared in the Sept. 1 episode of Wheel of Fortune hours after news of his suspension broke. The episode had been taped before Sony’s announcement, and Thornton performed his usual announcing duties as Ryan Seacrest introduced him during the broadcast.
Thornton Has Been the Voice of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Since 2011
Thornton became the show’s permanent announcer in 2011 following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell in 2010. His official biography also identifies him as the announcer for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
Although viewers usually hear rather than see him, Thornton occasionally moved in front of the camera. In a 2023 episode, contestant Sarah Ward told Pat Sajak that she was a fan of Thornton and wanted to meet him, leading Thornton to briefly handle hosting duties while Sajak took over the announcing.
His broadcasting career predates the game show by decades. Thornton began working in broadcasting in 1983 and later became a familiar Southern California radio voice at KNX. His other credits include announcing work on The Price Is Right and voice roles in Celebrity Deathmatch and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc..