Susan Stafford
Encyclopedia
Susan Stafford was the original hostess of the game show Wheel of Fortune
from January 6, 1975 until she left on October 22, 1982. She also returned briefly in 1986 to substitute for Vanna White
.
Stafford married radio pioneer Gordon McLendon
in 1973, and was then briefly married to Dick Ebersol
of NBC Sports
and former producer of Saturday Night Live
in the 1980s. Ebersol and Stafford were married on a beach in Malibu. Their wedding was attended by the likes of John Belushi
, Chevy Chase
, and SNL producer Lorne Michaels
. After they exchanged vows, Chase jokingly grabbed Stafford and threw her into the ocean. Stafford later became involved with game show producer Dan Enright
. At the time, she was also Vice President of Public Relations of Barry & Enright Productions
.
After leaving the show, Stafford earned a B.A. in Nutrition and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University
, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the unaccredited
Pacific Western University
.
In 2003, Stafford made her first game show appearance since Wheel, modeling the prizes for Hollywood Squares
Game Show Week (Part 2).
Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
from January 6, 1975 until she left on October 22, 1982. She also returned briefly in 1986 to substitute for Vanna White
Vanna White
Vanna White is an American television personality and film actress best known as the hostess of Wheel of Fortune since 1982.-Early life:...
.
Stafford married radio pioneer Gordon McLendon
Gordon McLendon
Gordon Barton McLendon was a radio pioneer and pirate radio broadcaster. He has been coined the Maverick of Radio. McLendon is widely credited for perfecting, with great commercial success, the Top 40 radio format during the 1950s and 1960s which was first invented by Todd Storz and for developing...
in 1973, and was then briefly married to Dick Ebersol
Dick Ebersol
Duncan "Dick" Ebersol is an American television executive and a senior adviser for . He had previously been the chairman of NBC Sports, producing large scale television events such as the Olympic Games and National Football League broadcasts....
of NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
and former producer of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
in the 1980s. Ebersol and Stafford were married on a beach in Malibu. Their wedding was attended by the likes of John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
, Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, and SNL producer Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels, CM is a Canadian-American television producer, writer, and comedian best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live and producing the various film and TV projects that spun off from it.-Early life:...
. After they exchanged vows, Chase jokingly grabbed Stafford and threw her into the ocean. Stafford later became involved with game show producer Dan Enright
Dan Enright
Daniel "Dan" Enright was one of the most successful game show producers in American television. Enright worked with Jack Barry from the 1940s until Barry's death in 1984. They were partners in creating programs for radio and television...
. At the time, she was also Vice President of Public Relations of Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions , was a United States television production company that was formed in 1947 by Jack Barry and Dan Enright.-History:Jack Barry and Dan Enright first met at radio station WOR in New York, where...
.
After leaving the show, Stafford earned a B.A. in Nutrition and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University
Antioch University
Antioch University is an American university with five campuses located in four states. Campuses are located in Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; Keene, New Hampshire; Yellow Springs, Ohio; and Seattle, Washington. Additionally, Antioch University houses two institution-wide...
, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the unaccredited
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
Pacific Western University
Pacific Western University
California Miramar University , is a nationally accredited private proprietary institution of higher learning and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education...
.
In 2003, Stafford made her first game show appearance since Wheel, modeling the prizes for Hollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares is an American panel game show in which two contestants play tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The "board" for the game is a 3 × 3 vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity seated at a desk and facing the contestants...
Game Show Week (Part 2).