Jim Thornton, the longtime announcer for Wheel of Fortune, has been suspended by Sony Pictures Television Studios, the company confirmed Tuesday.
In a statement provided to Our News Outlet, Sony said: ‘We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton. He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.’
The studio did not elaborate on the nature of the allegations or provide further details about the investigation.
Our News Outlet has contacted Thornton for comment, but he has not responded as of publication.
According to TMZ , the inquiry is connected to an American Airlines commercial flight Thornton took in May, when another passenger allegedly raised a complaint about him with a flight attendant.
The reported incident was significant enough that the pilot arranged for law enforcement officers to meet Thornton at the gate when the aircraft arrived.
Thornton’s attorney told TMZ that the announcer ‘did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime.’
Jim Thornton, the announcer of Wheel of Fortune, was suspended Tuesday, according to TMZ. Sony Pictures Television Studios said it is recasting the role while an investigation is underway. Above, Thornton in 2024
The investigation allegedly stems from an incident on an airplane on May 14 in which a passenger complained about Thornton. He was reportedly questioned by officers upon landing before being released. Pictured in 2013 in LA
‘When questioned about the complaint made by a fellow passenger on the flight, law enforcement spoke to him for five minutes or less, immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred and told my client he was free to go.’
Thornton, who was pictured in a photo from the flight while wearing a Wheel of Fortune jacket, was reportedly questioned by the officers before he was allowed to go on his way.
In a statement to Our News Outlet, American Airlines said: ‘On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport following concerns reported by a customer onboard.’
Amid his suspension, Thornton appeared on Tuesday’s pre-taped episode of the show.
Thornton’s tenure with Wheel of Fortune goes back to 2011, when he replaced former announcer Charlie O’Donnell after his death in November 2010 at 78.
At the time, the long-running game show was hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White.
Thornton is rarely seen on the show, but TMZ notes that in 2023 he filled in for Sajak to host a round of the competition because one of the contestants was hoping to meet him.
After Sajak’s retirement, Ryan Seacrest joined White to co-host Wheel of Fortune beginning in September 2024.
Thornton has previously served – briefly – as an announcer on The Price Is Right in 2004.
In addition to being the announcer for Wheel of Fortune, Thornton is also a voice actor who has recorded small roles on high-profile Disney-Pixar films including Monsters, Inc. and Wall-E.
In a statement to Our News Outlet, American Airlines said: ‘On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport following concerns reported by a customer onboard’
Thornton’s tenure with Wheel of Fortune goes back to 2011, when he replaced former announcer Charlie O’Donnell after his death in November 2010 at 78. Pat Sajak and Vanna White hosted at the time
Thornton is rarely seen on the show, but TMZ notes that in 2023 he filled in for Sajak to host a round of the competition because one of the contestants was hoping to meet him
In addition to being the announcer for Wheel of Fortune, Thornton is also a voice actor who has recorded small roles on high-profile Disney–Pixar films including Monsters, Inc. (above) and Wall-E
Thornton’s most significant acting work was voicing announcer Jimmy Gomez (L) on MTV’s cult stop-motion animation comedy series Celebrity Deathmatch (pictured)
Outside of his work as a live-action announcer, Thornton is best known for appearing on the animated comedy The Cleveland Show and MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch.
He appeared in the main cast role on the Celebrity Deathmatch revival, which aired for two seasons from 2006 to 2007, after the original cult series was on the air from 1998 to 2002.
Each episode of the stop-motion animation comedy series featured gruesome wrestling matches between celebrities that ended with one of them dying in comically over-the-top manners.
Thornton voiced one of the wrestling announcers and commentators, Jimmy Gomez, which represented his most significant acting work to date.
