Jim Thornton has been suspended from his announcing duties on the popular American game show ‘Wheel of Fortune’ following allegations that prompted an investigation by Sony Pictures Television.Sony Pictures Television confirmed the development to The Hollywood Reporter, saying Thornton’s position will be temporarily recast while the investigation is underway. However, the studio has not disclosed the nature of the allegations against him.“We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton,” the company said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.”
Studio keeps details of allegations private
Sony Pictures Television has not provided further details about the claims or specified when the investigation is expected to conclude. The studio has also not identified Thornton’s temporary replacement.The circumstances surrounding the allegations remain unclear. However, TMZ reported that they relate to an incident that allegedly took place aboard a commercial flight earlier this year. The studio has not publicly linked the investigation to any specific incident.The suspension comes as Wheel of Fortune continues its regular television run. Ryan Seacrest currently hosts the long-running game show, while Vanna White continues as its co-host and letter-turner.Although Thornton has largely worked behind the scenes, his voice has become familiar to generations of viewers. He joined Wheel of Fortune in 2011 and has served as its announcer for more than a decade.
Jim Thornton joined ‘Wheel of Fortune’ in 2011
Thornton took over as the show’s announcer following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell. Before joining ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ Thornton had already established himself as a broadcaster, with experience across radio and television.He also worked on ‘The Price Is Right,’ another long-running American game show that airs on CBS. His wider career includes work as a news anchor, television and radio announcer, and voice actor, with credits spanning film, television and video game projects.‘Wheel of Fortune’ has also been adapted for audiences outside the US. An Indian version of the show aired earlier this year, with Akshay Kumar as host. The adaptation ran from January through April.For now, the original ‘Wheel of Fortune’ will continue with Seacrest and White, while Thornton remains suspended pending the outcome of Sony Pictures Television’s investigation.
