Longtime Wheel of Fortune
announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended by Sony Pictures Television amid an internal investigation following an airline passenger complaint on a May flight to Los Angeles. Thornton’s attorney denies any wrongdoing, while the studio moves quickly to recast the role ahead of Season 44.
Sony Pictures Television Suspends Announcer Jim Thornton
Longtime Wheel of Fortune
announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended from the syndicated game show by producer Sony Pictures Television. Studio officials confirmed the suspension as part of an ongoing internal review concerning allegations brought to light following a commercial flight earlier this year.
The studio has moved rapidly to fill the vacancy behind the microphone. We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton,
the Sony spokesperson said in a statement. He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.
May Flight Incident and Law Enforcement Response at LAX
The scrutiny surrounding the veteran voice actor stems from an incident aboard an American Airlines Flight 1276 on May 14. The aircraft traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Los Angeles International Airport when a passenger raised concerns with a flight attendant after observing materials on a laptop.
American Airlines confirmed that the flight was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) following concerns reported by a customer onboard.
Officers questioned Thornton at the gate before he was released.
Defense Attorney Disputes Allegations and Criminal Wrongdoing
Legal representation for the announcer strongly pushed back against the characterization of the airline encounter. Allison Hart, attorney for the television personality, issued statements to media outlets defending her client’s conduct and disputing reports regarding criminal wrongdoing.
“My client did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime. 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.”
Allison Hart, Attorney for Jim Thornton, via USA Today
According to his legal counsel, Thornton became involved in suicide prevention advocacy after a family member died by suicide two years prior. The attorney stated that he frequented support platforms and was linked to an online chatroom by an acquaintance from the support community before leaving the site upon discovering its nature, maintaining that no illegal material was viewed or downloaded.
Broadcast Legacy and Game Show Timeline
Thornton has served as the recognizable voice of the syndicated game show since 2010, stepping into the role following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell. He officially joined as the main announcer in 2011 and also took on announcing duties for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
starting in 2021.
Outside of his work alongside cohosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White—who return for the Season 44 premiere slated for September 14—Thornton’s extensive voice acting and broadcast career spans local Los Angeles radio stations, The Price Is Right,
The Cleveland Show,
and commercial narration in Monsters, Inc.
