New York (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, riled liberals and accused the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83.

Mark Young, co-host and friend of Woolery’s podcast, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas in the presence of his wife, Kristen. “Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a wonderful man of faith. Life won’t be the same without him,” Young wrote.

Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty quips, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978.

In 1983, Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV’s “Love Connection,” for which he coined the phrase, “We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds,” a two-finger signature called the “2 and two seconds.” 2.” In 1984 he presented the TV show ‘Scrabble’, which simultaneously presented two game shows on TV until 1990.

“Love Connection” — long before the dawn of dating apps — had a premise in which a single man or woman watched the audition tapes of three potential partners and then picked one for a date.

A few weeks after the date, the dude sat with Woolery in front of a studio audience and told everyone about the date. The audience would vote for the three contestants, and if the audience agreed with the guest’s choice, “Love Connection” would offer to pay for a second date.

Woolery told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003 that his favorite pair of lovebirds was a 91-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman. “She had so much eye makeup on, she looked like a stolen Corvette. He was so old he said, “I remember wagon trains.” The poor man. She took him on a hot air balloon ride.”

Other career highlights include hosting the shows “Lingo,” “Greed” and “The Chuck Woolery Show,” as well as hosting the short-lived syndicated revival of “The Dating Game” from 1998 to 2000 and an ill-fated talk show from 1991. . In 1992, he played himself in two episodes of the TV series ‘Melrose Place’.