Jim Thornton Denies Wrongdoing After ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Suspension

Jim Thornton, the longtime announcer for Wheel of Fortune, has denied allegations of wrongdoing after being suspended from the game show.

Thornton, 61, “did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime,” his attorney said in a statement to TMZ.

According to his attorney, Thornton was questioned by law enforcement after a fellow passenger made a complaint during a commercial flight in May. Officers spoke with him for less than five minutes, determined that no wrongdoing had occurred and allowed him to leave, the attorney said.

Sony Pictures Television suspended Thornton on Tuesday, Sept. 1, while it investigates the allegations and recasts his role on Wheel of Fortune. The studio has not disclosed the nature of the allegations.

The incident reportedly occurred on May 14 aboard American Airlines Flight 1276 from an undisclosed location to Los Angeles. American Airlines said the flight was met by law enforcement at Los Angeles International Airport after concerns were reported by a passenger.

Thornton joined Wheel of Fortune as its announcer in 2011, following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell. He has also worked on The Price Is Right and The Soup and provided voice work for The Cleveland Show and Monsters, Inc.