Chuck Woolery, the charismatic game show host who kicked off the long run of Wheel of Fortune before spending 11 years playing matchmaker on Love Connection, has died. He was 83.

However, Pat Sajak was ultimately given the hosting role following Woolery's departure in 1981 over a contract dispute. Woolery later acknowledged that he would have been earning a higher salary if he hadn’t left the game show, as reported by Parade.

"If I wouldn't have left 'Wheel of Fortune,' I'd be making about $10 million a year now," Woolery recalled in a 2003 interview.