Wheel of Fortune is one of the most popular and longest-running game shows in television history, with millions of fans tuning in every weeknight to watch Pat Sajak and Vanna White spin the wheel and solve puzzles. But did you know that before Vanna White, there was another hostess who turned the letters on the show?
Her name is Susan Stafford, and she was the original daytime hostess of Wheel of Fortune from 1975 to 1982. She co-hosted the show with Chuck Woolery until Pat Sajak replaced him in 1981. She left the show by her own choice in 1982, but returned in 1986 to substitute for Vanna White, who was on maternity leave.
So, what made Susan Stafford leave the show that made her famous? And what has she been doing since then?
Susan Stafford grew up in Missouri and Kansas City, where she won several beauty contests as a teenager. She moved to California as an adult to work as a television actress, appearing in shows like Ironside, Love American Style, Police Story, and Marcus Welby, MD. She also had a couple of marriages to radio pioneer Gordon McLendon and NBC Sports executive Dick Ebersol, both of which ended in divorce.
She landed the gig as the hostess of Wheel of Fortune in 1975, when the show was still a daytime program on NBC. She was a natural at turning letters and charming the audience, earning a lot of attention and money as one of the highest-paid game show ladies. However, she soon felt that the job was not fulfilling her and decided to quit after seven years.
“I mean, for seven years I stood there and turned letters. I had to ask myself if that was any way for a grown woman to live her life,” she told The Chicago Tribune in 1987. “I’ve never felt nostalgic. I’m surprised that they haven’t changed the format. Actually, when I’ve watched the show, I have felt a sort of relief. Relief that I don’t have to do that anymore.”
After leaving Wheel of Fortune, Susan Stafford pursued other interests and passions. She earned degrees in nutrition and clinical psychology, and worked as a pastoral care educator, author, vice president of Barry & Enright Productions, and host of a Christian talk show called Alive. She also published a memoir in 2011 called Stop the Wheel, I Want to Get Off!, where she shared her life story and insights.
“I was given a lot of attention as one of the highest-paid game show ladies; however, the recognition was only good for so long. I learned to be all things to all people to such an extent that I pushed the ‘real me’ down,” she wrote.
She also made occasional appearances on other game shows, such as Hollywood Squares in 2003, where she reunited with Pat Sajak and Chuck Woolery. Both of them had nothing but praise for their former co-host.
“She’s a very nice lady. She’s very sweet. She’s very professional. She’s very good at what she does,” Sajak said.
“She was a great letter-turner. She was very good at it. She had a lot of personality and she was fun to work with,” Woolery said.
Susan Stafford currently lives in Las Vegas and hosts a podcast called Out of the Box With Susan Stafford, where she interviews celebrities and health experts. She also has a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, dedicated to her in 2005.
Susan Stafford may not be as famous as Vanna White, but she will always be remembered as the original hostess of Wheel of Fortune, who paved the way for one of the most iconic game shows ever.
Relevant articles:
– What Happened to Susan Stafford? See Where the Original ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Cohost Is Now, Allure, June 13, 2023
– This Is Who Turned Letters On Wheel Of Fortune Before Vanna White, Nicki Swift, February 3, 2022
– Susan Stafford Makes Last Appearance on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ in 1982, Outsider, October 22, 2021