Jim Thornton Is Out at 'Wheel of Fortune'
Sony ends the announcer's 15-year run one day after photos of an alleged disturbing in-flight incident surfaced.
Fame & Fortune Desk · September 5, 2026 · Based on reporting by Vulture
Sony fired "Wheel of Fortune" announcer Jim Thornton on Friday, announcing the decision came "after a thorough investigation" without saying what it concerned. The move landed one day after photos surfaced appearing to show him engaging in a disturbing chatroom mid-flight, E! Online reports.
Thornton had been the show's voice since 2011. The timeline moved fast: he was suspended Sept. 1 after a fellow airline passenger photographed his screen, per Page Six. The formal firing landed Friday afternoon. Sony's statement stopped short of naming the allegations, leaving the tabloids to fill in the picture — and one of America's most beloved game shows suddenly without its longtime voice.
