Vanna White Biography
Born Vanna Marie White, Vanna White is an American television personality and film actress from Conway, South Carolina. Since 1982, she has been known as the hostess of Wheel of Fortune.
Vanna White Age|Birthday
Vanna White was born on 18th February 1957. Therefore, she is 64 years old as of 2021 and celebrates her birthday on 18th February every year.
Vanna White Height|Weight
Vanna’s height is 5 feet 9 inches (approximately 175 centimeters). Moreover, her weight is 58 kilograms.
Vanna White Family
White was born in Horry County, California to her parents Joan Marie Nicholas and Miguel Angel Rosich. However, when she was an infant, her parents divorced. She was raised by her mother and her stepfather, Hebert White Jr. in North Myrtle Beach. She took the name of her stepfather, who is a real estate broker.
Vanna White Husband
White dated John Gibson, a dancer-turned-actor in the 1980s. They got engaged. However, in 1986, Gibson died in a plane crash.
Moreover, in December 1990, she married restaurant owner George Santo Pietro. She has two children, a boy by the name of Nicholas(Niko) born in 1994, and a girl by the name of Giovanna (Gigi) born in 1997. Prior to this, she had announced her first pregnancy to a puzzle in a Wheel of Fortune show in 1992. However, she had a miscarriage. In addition, the couple filed for a divorce in May 2002 and finalized it in November.
She was engaged to businessman Michael Kaye from 2004 to 2006 but the two never married.
Moreover, she has been in a relationship with John Donaldson, the president of JDC Construction & Development since 2012. However, they are not married. She was asked if they will ever try marriage. She replied that in both of their eyes they feel married. Since they have been together for eight years and it seems to be working.
Vanna White Education
White graduated from high school and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. She joined The Atlanta School of Fashion and Design and worked as a model. Later, in 1979, she went to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles. However, in 1980 her mother was dying of ovarian cancer hence she returned briefly to South Carolina to see her.
Vanna White Career
Television, motion pictures, and other media appearances
White was a contestant in the Miss USA 1978 pageant before her appearance on TV in 1980. She was among the first four contestants in the episode of The Price Is Right on June 20 1980 which was her first appearance in a game show. Her running clip to Contestants’ Row was rebroadcast as part of The Price Is Right 25th Anniversary Special in August 1996. However, she did not make it onstage. Moreover, on the special broadcast Game Show Moments Gone Banana, she was featured. In September 2021, The Price Is Right celebrated 50 years.
In addition, in 1980, she acted in a film that was not completed. However, it was subsequently edited and released in June 1990 as Gypsy Angels. She appeared as Doris in the horror movie Graduation Day. Also, she got a bit part in the film Looker in 1981. The American slasher film, Graduation Day was directed by Herb Freed. And, produced by Troma Entertainment.
Vanna Speaks
Her autobiography, Vana Speaks! was a best-seller in 1987. Moreover, she was featured in a Playboy pictorial in 1987. She showed photos taken of her wearing see-through lingerie before her career on Wheel of Fortune. She played Venus, in the NBC television film Goddes of Love in 1988. It scored 12% of the Audience Vote on Rotten Tomatoes with Betsy Palmer co-starring Juno.
The King Of Queens, L.A. Law, 227, Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Simon and Simon, and Full House are television shows she has made cameo appearances. Additionally, Double Dragon, Naked Gun 331/3, and The Final Insult are films she has appeared in. In a gender-bending parody of the film Indecent Proposal, Married…With Children, she guest-starred. Al Bundy had the role of Demi Moore while White had that of Robert Redford. She provided interviews from the backstage area throughout the evening for WrestleMania while she served as guest timekeeper. In “Santa’s Last Ride”, the CD release of Leslie Bricusse’s, in 1996, she was the narrator and singer.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Furthermore, Pat Sajak, Merv Griffin, and Alex Trebek were key witnesses on April 20, 2006, when she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition, in The Real Story of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, a Canadian animated television special, she lent her voice. Also, she voiced in the American animated television series Captain Planet and the Planeteers.
Moreover, in September 2021, she presented a set of luggage in a special guest appearance on Price Is Right Celebrates 50 Years.
Wheel of Fortune television game show
Along with Vicki McCarty and Summer Bartholomew, they were selected as substitute hostesses to co-host Wheel of Fortune. This was after hostess Susan Stafford left in October 1982. On 13th December 1982, White became the regular hostess. She was to temporarily take over hosting Wheel of Fortune as MC. Moreover, she started with the week of episodes which were slated to air starting on December 9, 2019. This was announced by Sony Pictures Television on November 8, 2019. Pat Sajak needed emergency surgery in order to clear a blocked intestine hence was hospitalized. Taping day was postponed and the announcement was made.
Taping day
White hosted the taping day. The subsequent was rescheduled the next day. In addition, during the Secret Santa Holiday Giveaway, guest letter activators were implemented. This was during her shows hosting the December 9 and 16 Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and other Disney characters. Subsequently, the show went hiatus during Christmas week. Then a week of previously-taped ‘America’s Game’ episodes that Sajak hosted. Moreover, White was assisted by a special guest, Sajak’s Daughter Maggie. She helped before White returned hosting on January 6, 2020. On December 5, 2019, Sajak returned to the show. He came with an episode to be broadcast beginning on January 13, 2020. This was after he fully recovered.
Sajak and White hosted Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on ABC in 2021. They were both signed on to continue as hosts of Wheel of Fortune through the 2023-2024 season which was announced later in the year.
Real Estate Investing
White likes flipping houses and use her income to invest in apartment buildings. moreover, she listed her Beverly Hills home for $47.5 million in 2017.
Crotchet and Knitting endorsements
White was taught how to crochet by her grandmother at the age of 5. However, she had lost interest in the hobby over time. This was until she noticed her pregnant hairdresser crotcheting a baby blanket for herself while on the Wheel of Fortune set. She asked the hairdresser to help her relearn crotchet because she had previously crocheted. She finds it very relaxing and has something to show for the time she has spent doing it. Moreover, she often crotchets when she has downtime.
Additionally, she spoke about her love of crotchet on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Her relationship with Lion Brand Yarns began then. Subsequently, she was contacted and negotiated a contract with the yarn company. Moreover, she endorses crotchet and knitting books published in her name. Her own line of yarn is called Vanna’s Choice.
World Record
White’s smile, constant clapping in support of each episode’s contestants, and seamless revealing of letters on the game board make her famous. In addition, she was presented with a Guinness World Record certificate for most frequent clapper on the May 24, 2013 episode of Wheel of Fortune.
It was estimated she clapped at least 3,480,86 times. This was as of January 31, 2013, across the show’s 30 seasons. Additionally, during the show’s modern syndicated run, which began on September 19, 1983, she had appeared in all but 10 of Wheel’s 5,754 episodes to that point. She claps an average number of 606 per show.
Litigation
Samsung Electronics used an advertisement on a game show in 1993 featuring a robot turning letters. White sued them alleging violation of her personality rights. The United Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the lower court’s decision in Samsung’s favor by denying rehearing and judge Alex Kozinski issued a dissent. White was awarded $403,000 in damages when U.S Supreme Court denied certiorari.
Vanna White Salary
White’s salary is $10 million
Vanna White Net Worth
White’s net worth is $70 million.
