Chuck Woolery’s Heartbreak After His Son’s Fatal Accident in 1986: ‘My Christian Faith Got Me Through’

Chuck Woolery, the beloved television host and original face of Wheel of Fortunesuffered an unimaginable tragedy in January 1986 when his 19-year-old son, Chad Woolery, was killed in a motorcycle accident. According to AmoMama, Chad was driving through Brentwood, California, when he collided with a median, causing a fatal crash. Despite wearing a helmet, Chad succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Woolery had warned his son not to ride the motorcycle. “I had just bought him a car,” Woolery said. “The day he died, I told him to drive his car, not his motorcycle.” However, his warnings were ignored. The tragedy marked one of the darkest periods in Woolery’s life.

READ MORE: Fast facts about Chuck Woolery: net worth, cause of death, family and why he left the show

Turning to faith for strength

The heartbreak left Woolery devastated. “When Chad died, I was crushed. Something died with me that could never be replaced,” he revealed in an interview with People. Woolery credited his Christian faith with helping him endure the devastating loss. He explained that his belief in an afterlife and that Chad was in a better place gave him comfort.

“My Christian faith is probably the only thing that got me through this,” he said. “Without the understanding of where Chad is and what I expect in the future, it would have been very difficult.”

Dealing with work

In the immediate aftermath of Chad’s death, Woolery turned to his work as a means of distraction. Just days after picking out his son’s casket, he resumed hosting Scrabblewhere multiple episodes are filmed in one day. According to PeopleWoolery described the routine as a way to temporarily escape the overwhelming grief, although it did little to fill the void left by his son’s death.

A lasting impact on parenting

Chad’s death had a profound impact on Woolery’s parenting style with his younger sons, Michael and Sean, whom he had with his third wife, Teri Nelson. According to AmoMamaWoolery admitted that he became overly cautious and often feared the worst. “I have to be careful not to suffocate them,” he said. He also vowed that he would never let his children own motorcycles, stressing, “I’m going to have to tell them one day, ‘Look, I know you want a motorcycle, but you’re not going to get one.'”

Memory of Chad

Chad Woolery was a spirited young man with a zest for life. Woolery described him as someone who enjoyed singing, playing guitar, acting and sports. “He loved girls and all sports. He loved me, and I loved him,” Woolery said. The pain of Chad’s loss remained a constant presence in his life, but Woolery’s faith allowed him to move forward while keeping his son’s memory alive.

Throughout his life, Woolery often spoke of the central role his faith played in dealing with life’s challenges. When Woolery passed away in November 2024 at the age of 83, his resilience and unwavering faith in God were remembered as defining aspects of his life. As reported, Woolery’s legacy extends far beyond his career as a game show host and serves as a testament to the power of faith and love in the face of great loss.