Charles John O'Donnell (August 12, 1932 – November 1, 2010) was an American radio and television announcer, primarily known for his work on game shows, and for his distinctive baritone voice. Among them, he was best known for Wheel of Fortune, where he worked from 1975 to 1980, and again from 1989 until his death. O'Donnell was also known for announcing American Bandstand.

Early career

O'Donnell was a Philadelphia native, and was of English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. He began his career as a teenager at WCHA in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. In 1956, he worked as program director at WHAT, a 250-watt R&B station in Philadelphia, where he discovered and launched the career of future Philadelphia radio personality Hy Lit. When WIBG became top-40 in 1957, O'Donnell was named news director. In 1958, he became the sidekick of Dick Clark on WFIL-TV's afternoon dance program, American Bandstand.

This led to several stints as a disc jockey on Los Angeles radio (most notably on Pasadena station KRLA, 1964–67), and later as news anchorman and staff announcer on Los Angeles television station KCOP-TV, where he performed double duty and often introduced his own newscasts with the self-referential cue "and now Charlie O'Donnell with the news." Additionally, Barry & Enright Productions taped The Joker's Wild and Tic-Tac-Dough at KCOP during its initial syndicated runs, which O'Donnell announced for. It was also in this period that he voiced the newscaster on the Simon & Garfunkel recording "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night."

He 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 and The $100,000 Pyramid (again working with Dick Clark). He also served as announcer for the American Music Awards, the Emmy Awards, and the Academy Awards.

O’Donnell’s other, non-game show work includes, in addition to his duties on American Bandstand, the music variety series Dance Fever, the talk shows The Toni Tennille Show and America, and the weekly music countdown series Solid Gold.

Death

O'Donnell died in his sleep at his Sherman Oaks, California, home on November 1, 2010 of congestive heart failure at the age of 78. He was survived by his second wife, Ellen Lerner, 4 children and two grandchildren. O'Donnell's funeral was held on November 11, 2010, at St. Charles Catholic Church in North Hollywood. O'Donnell's body was also cremated, with his ashes given to his family.

After his death, the show began rotating announcing duties among several guest announcers, including Jeopardy! announcer Johnny Gilbert and former Price Is Right announcer Rich Fields who voiced some 55 episodes. Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak described O'Donnell as "the perfect voice of the show." O'Donnell's last announced episode aired on October 29, 2010, three days before his death. O'Donnell was succeeded by veteran L.A. radio announcer Jim Thornton. He can still be heard on Wheel of Fortune slot machines.

The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia posthumously inducted O'Donnell into their Hall of Fame in 2011.

References

  • Charlie O'Donnell Interview 2008 for HyLitRadio/Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
  • Charlie O'Donnell on KRLA Pasadena, June 16, 1967
  • Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia website