Wheel of Fortune Announcer Jim Thornton Suspended After Flight Incident

In addition to his work on the long-running game show, Thornton has lent his voice to Monsters, Inc. and The Cleveland Show, as well as several episodes of Celebrity Deathmatch. He was also the former afternoon anchor for Los Angeles radio station KNX 1070.

And while Wheel of Fortune audiences oftentimes only heard him on the program, Thornton did make his way in front of the camera during a 2023 bonus round when a contestant named Sarah Ward requested to meet him. 

“I love Jim Thornton so much,” she exclaimed to host Sajak, who himself quipped at the time, “Did any money change hands at all?”

The camera cut to Thornton in his booth as he assured Sajak, “No, I promise, I promise, no!” 

As Ward put it, “I just love him!”