Pat Sajak

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 26, 1946,{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/pat-sajak/195266 |title=Pat Sajak Biography |access-date=October 15, 2007 |publisher=TVGuide.com | archive-date=April 1, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160401080351/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/pat-sajak/195266}} Sajak graduated from Farragut High School in 1964, then went to Columbia College Chicago while working as a desk clerk at The Palmer House Hilton hotel.{{cite web |url=http://www.patsajakgames.com/about/aboutpat.html |title=Meet Pat Sajak |work=patsajakgames.com |publisher=P.A.T. Productions and Uclick |access-date=November 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009022542/http://www.patsajakgames.com/about/aboutpat.html |archive-date=October 9, 2008 |url-status=dead }} His Polish-origin surname was originally spelled Sajdak, but he later changed it to Sajak to better reflect its Americanized pronunciation.{{cite web |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/pat-sajak?clip=50535 |title=Pat Sajak – Television Academy Interviews |date=October 10, 2007 |website=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |first1=Pat |last1=Sajak |first2=Barrie |last2=Nedler |access-date=September 10, 2023 }}

Sajak served in the U.S. Army as a disc jockey during the Vietnam War for American Forces Vietnam Network.{{cite news |title=Famous Veterans: Pat Sajak |website=Military.com |url=https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veterans-pat-sajak.html |access-date=August 27, 2020 |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029055432/https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veterans-pat-sajak.html |url-status=live }} He hosted the same Dawn Buster radio show that Adrian Cronauer did and Sajak followed Cronauer's tradition of signing on with "Good Morning Vietnam!" for 14 months.{{cite web |url=https://www.uso.org/stories/283-wheel-of-fortune-host-pat-sajak-recounts-his-days-as-an-army-dj |title='Wheel of Fortune' Host Pat Sajak Recounts His Days as an Army DJ |first=Pat |last=Sajak |website=USO.org |date=June 7, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2018 |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182337/https://www.uso.org/stories/283-wheel-of-fortune-host-pat-sajak-recounts-his-days-as-an-army-dj |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|The Pat Sajak Show}}

File:Pat Sajak WSM.jpg, for whom he was an afternoon host, c. 1970s]]

Sajak won a contest on WLS radio's Dick Biondi Show to be a guest teen deejay. While at Columbia College Chicago, his broadcasting instructor Al Parker told him that a local radio station (WEDC) was looking for a newsman. Sajak applied for the job and was hired to work from midnight to 6:00 a.m. In 1968, he joined the U.S. Army and was sent to Vietnam, serving as a disc jockey on Armed Forces Radio. On the Military Channel's program, An Officer and a Movie, Sajak admitted to botching President Richard Nixon's 1969 Christmas broadcast to the troops; he accidentally cut the feed off prematurely. Upon realizing the error, Sajak decided it would be best not to resume the feed. In the early 1970s, he DJed for a year at WNBS in Murray, Kentucky.{{cite news |first=Diane K. |last=Shah |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/11/magazine/the-good-fortunes-of-pat-sajak.html?src=pm&pagewanted=4 |title=The Good Fortunes of Pat Sajak |page=4 |date=December 11, 1988 |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 9, 2014 |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512230012/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/11/magazine/the-good-fortunes-of-pat-sajak.html?src=pm&pagewanted=4 |url-status=live }} Also in the early 1970s, Sajak began DJing at 50,000-watt WSM in Nashville; at the time, WSM was playing pop music during the day, and he was the 2:30–5:00 pm afternoon personality. The radio station's television sister, WSM-TV (now WSMV), brought Sajak on screen, first as a voiceover artist making station identifications and anchoring the five-minute newscasts during NBC's Today Show, then as a weekend and substitute weatherman, where he became acquainted with anchor Dan Miller. In 1977, KNBC-TV in Los Angeles was looking for a weather reporter and spotted Sajak working in Nashville. He accepted KNBC's request for him to be a full-time weather reporter for the station.

In 1981, Merv Griffin asked Sajak if he would be interested in taking over the duties as host on Wheel of Fortune from Chuck Woolery. However, Fred Silverman, the president and CEO of NBC, rejected his hiring, claiming Sajak was too local, and Griffin responded by imposing a moratorium on new tapings until Sajak was hired.Griffin, Merv. Merv: Making the Good Life Last. New York: Pocket Books, 2003, page 101 The issue became moot when Silverman was dismissed due to repeated programming failures and replaced by Brandon Tartikoff. Sajak, who had already hosted two game show pilots in 1980, Press Your Luck for Ralph Edwards (no relation to the 1983 CBS game show of the same name) and Puzzlers for Mark Goodson, accepted the position. From 1983 to 1989, Sajak hosted both the daytime (NBC) and syndicated evening versions of Wheel of Fortune; Sajak continued to host the latter version until 2024. With Sajak returning for his 36th season in 2018–19, he became the longest-running host of any game show, surpassing Bob Barker, who hosted The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007. Sajak was officially honored as such by the Guinness World Records with the episode taped on March 28, 2019, and aired May 8, 2019 (two days before the primetime version's 7,000th episode).{{cite news|url=https://fox11online.com/news/entertainment/wheel-of-fortune-celebrates-2-milestones-this-week|title='Wheel of Fortune' celebrates 2 milestones this week|date=May 8, 2019|publisher=WLUK-TV|access-date=May 9, 2019|archive-date=May 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509141819/https://fox11online.com/news/entertainment/wheel-of-fortune-celebrates-2-milestones-this-week|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=May 8, 2019 |title=Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak celebrates record-breaking career on popular gameshow |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/5/wheel-of-fortune-host-pat-sajak-celebrates-record-breaking-career-on-popu-571545/ |access-date=October 22, 2019 |website=Guinness World Records |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109073746/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/5/wheel-of-fortune-host-pat-sajak-celebrates-record-breaking-career-on-popu-571545/ |url-status=live }}

Sajak had a small role as a Buffalo, New York newscaster in the 1982 comedy film Airplane II: The Sequel. When his late-night talk show on CBS premiered in January 1989, Sajak left the daytime version of Wheel and was replaced by former San Diego Chargers place-kicker Rolf Benirschke (who was later replaced by Bob Goen when the daytime show moved to CBS in July of that year). Sajak appeared on Super Password several times from 1984 to 1989, as well as Password Plus in 1981, shortly before taking on hosting duties on Wheel. Other game shows on which he appeared as a celebrity guest were Dream House, Just Men!, and Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour.

File:Pat Sajak and Vanna White "Wheel of Fortune" 1986-87 Season promo-photo.jpg, circa 1986]]

Sajak hosted a short-lived late-night talk show on CBS from January 9, 1989 to April 13, 1990.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/10/arts/cbs-television-cancels-the-pat-sajak-show.html |title=CBS Television Cancels 'The Pat Sajak Show' |date=April 10, 1990 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=C16 |access-date=August 27, 2020 |archive-date=April 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429170516/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/10/arts/cbs-television-cancels-the-pat-sajak-show.html |url-status=live }} Dan Miller, Sajak's old friend and former anchor at WSM-TV in Nashville, joined him as his sidekick.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-passings10-2009apr10-story.html |title=Passings: Dan Miller |date=April 10, 2009 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=August 27, 2020 |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102065811/http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings10-2009apr10,0,1485634.story |url-status=live }} Sajak later became a frequent guest host for CNN's Larry King Live when King was unable to do the show.Sajak hosted at least eight episodes of Larry King Live, including [http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/26/lkl.00.html December 26, 2000] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022041515/http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/26/lkl.00.html |date=October 22, 2020 }}; [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/03/lkl.00.html May 3, 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118181059/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/03/lkl.00.html |date=January 18, 2008 }}; [https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/lkl/date/2001-05-07/segment/00 May 7, 2001] ; [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/08/lkl.00.html May 8, 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919010643/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/08/lkl.00.html |date=September 19, 2020 }}; [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/09/lkl.00.html May 9, 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005161723/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/09/lkl.00.html |date=October 5, 2016 }}; [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/10/lkl.00.html May 10, 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024154431/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/10/lkl.00.html |date=October 24, 2020 }}; [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0106/04/lkl.00.html June 4, 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510063016/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0106/04/lkl.00.html |date=May 10, 2008 }}; and [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/03/lkl.00.html January 5, 2003], according to CNN transcripts. Sajak became a regular substitute host for Regis Philbin on the syndicated Live with Regis and Kelly.{{cite news |url=https://tvline.com/2011/01/18/regis-philbin-leaving-live-who-should-replace-him/ |title=Regis Philbin Leaving Live!: Who Should Replace Him? |date=January 18, 2011 |website=TVLine |first=Matt Webb |last=Mitovich |access-date=August 30, 2020 |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029114601/https://tvline.com/2011/01/18/regis-philbin-leaving-live-who-should-replace-him/ |url-status=live }} Sajak also hosted Pat Sajak Weekend on Fox News in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/column_archive/0,2976,73,00.html|title=Pat Sajak Weekend|publisher=Fox News|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125213942/https://www.foxnews.com/column_archive/0,2976,73,00.html|url-status=live}} From at least 2002, Sajak hosted The Pat Sajak Baseball Hour, a syndicated weekly radio sports talk show that ended in 2006 due to scheduling conflicts.{{cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2002/08/05/qa-pat-sajak |title=Q+A Pat Sajak |date=August 5, 2002 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |first=Richard |last=Deitsch |access-date=August 30, 2020 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2008/03/10/pat-sajak-quips-hes-used-performing-enhancing-drugs-for-wheel-of-fortune |title=Pat Sajak quips he's used performing-enhancing drugs for Wheel of Fortune |date=March 10, 2008 |newspaper=Chicago Reader |first=Ryan |last=Hubbard |access-date=August 30, 2020 |archive-date=June 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622223935/https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2008/03/10/pat-sajak-quips-hes-used-performing-enhancing-drugs-for-wheel-of-fortune |url-status=live }}

Sajak is an external director of conservative publishing house Eagle Publishing.{{Cite web|url=http://www.regnery.com/eagle_manage.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414113210/http://www.regnery.com/eagle_manage.html|url-status=dead|title=Regnery Publishing: "Eagle Publishing Corporate Information"|archivedate=April 14, 2009}} He has been a member of the board of directors for the Claremont Institute.

In 1983, Sajak portrayed Kevin Hathaway in the NBC daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. In 1994, Sajak appeared as himself on the children's cartoon show Rugrats.{{cite news |url=https://www.thelist.com/779288/when-was-pat-sajak-on-days-of-our-lives/ |title=When Was Pat Sajak On Days Of Our Lives? |work=The List |date=February 24, 2022 |first=Amanda |last=Lynne |access-date=March 24, 2023 |quote=He even got to play an animated version of himself on the Nickelodeon cartoon "Rugrats" in 1994. |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324194551/https://www.thelist.com/779288/when-was-pat-sajak-on-days-of-our-lives/ |url-status=live }}

File:Wheel of Fortune Navy.jpg

In 1997, Sajak pulled an April Fool's Day prank on fans when he and Vanna White were contestants on an episode of Wheel hosted by Alex Trebek. The winnings of both Sajak and White were donated to charity (in this case, the American Cancer Society and the Boy Scouts of America). In return, Sajak hosted a regular episode of Jeopardy! in place of Trebek. Sajak also appeared at the beginning of a 2010 April Fool's episode, along with Jeff Probst and Neil Patrick Harris.

In 2001, Sajak appeared as himself in the episode "Inner Tube" on the sitcom The King of Queens.

Sajak began writing for the National Review Online in 2010. In his first post, Sajak questioned whether public employees should be allowed to vote on issues that would benefit them directly.{{cite news|last=Sajak|first=Pat|title=Public Employees and Elections: A Conflict of Interest?|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/public-employees-and-elections-conflict-interest-pat-sajak|newspaper=National Review Online|date=October 13, 2010|access-date=October 21, 2010|archive-date=October 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024145102/http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/249650/public-employees-and-elections-conflict-interest-pat-sajak|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Amira|first=Dan|title=Pat Sajak Should Stick to Telling People Which Letters Are in Certain Words and Phrases|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/10/pat_sajak_should_stick_to_tell.html|newspaper=New York Magazine|date=October 14, 2010|access-date=October 21, 2010|archive-date=October 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017135546/http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/10/pat_sajak_should_stick_to_tell.html|url-status=live}} He also has contributed to the center-right sociopolitical/social networking website Ricochet.com.{{cite web |url=http://ricochet.com/Profile/Pat-Sajak |title=Pat Sajak Profile |publisher=Silent Cal Productions |access-date=September 23, 2012 |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722074208/http://ricochet.com/Profile/Pat-Sajak |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last1=American Veterans Center|title=2011 National Memorial Day Parade Lineup|url=http://www.marching.com/news/2011/2011-national-memorial-day-parade-lineup/|website=www.marching.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224003406/http://www.marching.com/news/2011/2011-national-memorial-day-parade-lineup/|archive-date=December 24, 2017|date=May 25, 2011}}

Sajak is the author of several puzzle games, the first and best-known of them being "Lucky Letters", which debuted in 2007. The games, which Sajak developed with puzzle developer David L. Hoyt, are syndicated through Universal Uclick.[http://www.patsajakgames.com/ PatSajakGames.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061028000007/http://www.patsajakgames.com/ |date=October 28, 2006 }}. Retrieved December 25, 2011.

As of 2019, Sajak is the Hillsdale College board of trustees chair.{{Cite web|title=Leadership|url=https://www.hillsdale.edu/about/board-of-trustees/|access-date=May 10, 2021|website=Hillsdale College|language=en-US|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142351/https://www.hillsdale.edu/about/board-of-trustees/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Siacon|first=Aleanna|title='Wheel of Fortune's' Pat Sajak to chair Board of Trustees at Hillsdale College|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/04/27/pat-sajak-hillsdale-college/3599724002/|access-date=May 10, 2021|website=Detroit Free Press|language=en-US|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510010636/https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/04/27/pat-sajak-hillsdale-college/3599724002/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Board of Trustees |url=http://www.hillsdale.edu/about/president/trustees |access-date=February 24, 2015 |publisher=Hillsdale College |archive-date=February 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225052956/http://www.hillsdale.edu/about/president/trustees |url-status=live }} He was previously vice-chair for 15 years.{{Cite web|last=McGhee|first=Kaylee|date=April 25, 2019|title=Sajak to take the helm on board of trustees|url=http://hillsdalecollegian.com/2019/04/sajak-take-helm-board-trustees/|access-date=May 10, 2021|website=Hillsdale Collegian|language=en-US|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510010642/http://hillsdalecollegian.com/2019/04/sajak-take-helm-board-trustees/|url-status=live}} Hillsdale is a private Christian college.

Sajak has appeared on episodes of ESPN Radio's The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, as well as Le Batard's other show, Highly Questionable.{{cite web |url=http://www.theticketmiami.com/dan-lebatard/ |title=Dan LeBatard & Stugotz |publisher=AM 790 The Ticket |access-date=March 3, 2017 |quote=friends of the program ... Pat Sajak |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828025913/http://www.theticketmiami.com/dan-lebatard/ |archive-date=August 28, 2016 }}{{cite news |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/12/pat-sajak-rapped-a-few-bars-of-a-rae-sremmurd-song-on-highly-questionable |title=Pat Sajak rapped a few bars of a Rae Sremmurd song on Highly Questionable |department=For the Win |newspaper=USA Today |first=Michah |last=Peters |date=December 12, 2014 |access-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304193852/http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/12/pat-sajak-rapped-a-few-bars-of-a-rae-sremmurd-song-on-highly-questionable |url-status=live }}

Since 2020, Sajak has been credited as a Consulting Producer (since the start of Season 39) of Wheel of Fortune.

Since 2021, Sajak and White have hosted Primetime Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on ABC.{{cite news |last1=Stone |first1=Natalie |title=Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Coming to ABC with Pat Sajak and Vanna White Set to Host |url=https://people.com/tv/pat-sajak-vanna-white-to-host-celebrity-wheel-of-fortune/ |website=People |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110100637/https://people.com/tv/pat-sajak-vanna-white-to-host-celebrity-wheel-of-fortune/ |url-status=live }}

In September 2021, it was announced that both Sajak and White had signed on to continue as hosts of Wheel of Fortune through the 2023–24 season.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/pat-sajak-vanna-white-host-wheel-of-fortune-through-2024-1234829089/|title=Pat Sajak & Vanna White Sign On To Host 'Wheel Of Fortune' Through 2024|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=September 8, 2021|access-date=September 9, 2021|archive-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909023526/https://deadline.com/2021/09/pat-sajak-vanna-white-host-wheel-of-fortune-through-2024-1234829089/|url-status=live}} In 2021, Sajak voiced a singing bust in a Muppets Haunted Mansion television special.{{cite web |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |title='Muppets Haunted Mansion' Scares Up First Trailer For Disney+ Halloween Special |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/muppets-haunted-mansion-issues-first-trailer-disney-halloween-special-1234842730/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=September 23, 2021 |publisher=Deadline Hollywood, LLC. |access-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126050036/https://deadline.com/2021/09/muppets-haunted-mansion-issues-first-trailer-disney-halloween-special-1234842730/ |url-status=live }} Sajak has been a frequent celebrity narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional, appearing most recently in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024.[https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/attractions/2021/11/09/disney-reveals-full-celebrity-narrator-lineup-epcot-candlelight-processional MyNews13 Narrator Lineup Revealed] Retrieved August 18, 2023[https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/epcot-holiday-traditions-and-candlelight-processional-narrators-announced/ EPCOT Holiday Traditions and Candlelight Processional Narrators Announced] Disney Parks Blog, October 16, 2024

On June 12, 2023, Sajak announced that he would retire as host of Wheel of Fortune in 2024, after the conclusion of the show's 41st season.{{Cite web |last=Seitz |first=Loree |date=June 12, 2023 |title=Pat Sajak Says He's Retiring as 'Wheel of Fortune' Host After Upcoming Season |url=https://www.thewrap.com/pat-sajak-wheel-of-fortune-retiring-season-41/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}} Shortly afterwards, media personality Ryan Seacrest was announced as Sajak's successor.{{cite news |last1=Koblin |first1=John |title=Ryan Seacrest Named New Host of 'Wheel of Fortune' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/27/business/media/ryan-seacrest-wheel-of-fortune.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur |access-date=June 27, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=June 27, 2023 |ref=Koblin 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627171416/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/27/business/media/ryan-seacrest-wheel-of-fortune.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur |archive-date=June 27, 2023}} His final episode was taped in April 2024{{cite news|url = https://deadline.com/2024/04/pat-sajak-final-wheel-of-fortune-episode-air-date-1235877034/|title = Pat Sajak's Final 'Wheel Of Fortune' Episode Air Date Set|last = Petski|first = Denise|date = April 5, 2024|accessdate = June 6, 2024|work = Deadline Hollywood}} and aired on June 7, 2024. In June 2023, Sajak agreed to continue as a show consultant for three years after hosting and said he would continue as chairman of the board of trustees for Hillsdale College.{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/pat-sajak-lines-up-next-gig-after-wheel-of-fortune-retirement-7548331 |title=Pat Sajak Lines Up Next Gig After 'Wheel of Fortune' Retirement News |date=June 16, 2023 |magazine=People |first=Dory |last=Jackson |access-date=June 16, 2024}} It was announced on July 11, 2024 that Sajak would return the host of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune for its fifth season.{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Rick |title=Pat Sajak Returning as 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Host at ABC |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/pat-sajak-returning-celebrity-wheel-of-fortune-fall-2024-1235945109/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 10, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}} The season premiered in December 2024 with the remaining episodes scheduled to begin airing on April 30, 2025.{{cite web|last=Lusk|first=Darian|title='Wheel of Fortune' Announces Pat Sajak Will Return This Year for 1 Night Only |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1160129/celebrity-wheel-of-fortune-pat-sajak-special-holiday-episode/|website=TV Insider|date=November 1, 2024|access-date=March 27, 2025}}{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title=Pat Sajak's Final Run On 'Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune', 'Jeopardy! Masters' Get ABC Premiere Dates |url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/pat-sajak-celebrity-wheel-of-fortune-abc-premiere-date-1236352248/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 27, 2025|access-date=March 27, 2025}}

File:Vanna White and Pat Sajak, 2006 edit.jpg in 2006]]

While at WSMV as a meteorologist in the mid-1970s, Sajak commented about "daytime highs and nighttime lows". This prompted songwriter Ben Peters to write "Daytime Friends", which became a number one hit for Kenny Rogers in 1977.{{cite news |url=https://countrymusix.com/celebrating-kenny-rogerss-timeless-hit-the-untold-story-of-daytime-friends |title=Celebrating Kenny Rogers's Timeless Hit: The Untold Story of 'Daytime Friends' |date=September 21, 2023 |website=Country Musix |access-date=December 14, 2023 |author1=Musix }}

Sajak was parodied in a 1980s Sesame Street sketch, with a Muppet named Pat Playjacks hosting "Squeal of Fortune". The goal was for the contestants (Prairie Dawn and The Count) to guess how many times a pig in the center of the wheel would squeal before the wheel stopped.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtg-0K1w8Hk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Dtg-0K1w8Hk |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Squeal of Fortune|date=May 14, 2007 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

During the 1980s, comedian Martin Short frequently portrayed a fictional character he called Ed Grimley, a hyperactive manchild who is obsessed with banal popular culture – Sajak in particular – on the sketch comedy television shows SCTV and Saturday Night Live.{{cite web |last1=Luppi |first1=Kathleen |title=Ed Grimley would go completely mental |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/tn-dpt-et-0415-martin-short-20160414-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=April 15, 2016 |access-date=September 19, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920174255/https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/tn-dpt-et-0415-martin-short-20160414-story.html |url-status=live }}

In 1986, Sajak and his Wheel of Fortune co-star Vanna White portrayed themselves on an episode of the NBC sitcom 227.{{cite web |title=The Wheel of Misfortune - 227 |url=https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/the-wheel-of-misfortune/umc.cmc.1vmawti5h7voq7qi3jhu2mbud?showId=umc.cmc.4zi8a2lwt10h80j5g71r8tg1u |website=tv.apple.com |date=October 4, 1986 |publisher=Apple, Inc. |access-date=September 19, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171908/https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/the-wheel-of-misfortune/umc.cmc.1vmawti5h7voq7qi3jhu2mbud?showId=umc.cmc.4zi8a2lwt10h80j5g71r8tg1u |url-status=live }}

In the fourth-season episode of The A-Team called "Wheel of Fortune", Sajak makes a cameo along with co-star Vanna White. In the episode, Murdock wins big at Wheel of Fortune due to Face's system of guessing the letters correctly.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In 1992, Sajak was a special guest star in the TV show The Commish. The episode first aired on November 7, 1992, and was called "The Two Faces of Ed". He played psychologist Brian Brandon.{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/pat_sajak |title=Pat Sajak |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173324/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/pat_sajak |url-status=live }}

In the fourth episode of season three of Comedy Central's Brickleberry, "That Brother's My Father", Sajak gets kidnapped and becomes a hostage to the wheel of fortune. In the episode, the character of Connie, a strong and very large but typically kindhearted state park ranger, takes an unhealthy obsession with Sajak and his famous game show, ultimately tying him to a makeshift replica of the wheel itself and attempting a faux-game of Wheel of Fortune with him while behaving erratically.

In the fourth episode of season four of Abbott Elementary, Jacob Hill, a teacher at Abbott Elementary, dresses up as Pat Sajak for Halloween.

Sajak is married to Lesly Brown-Sajak, a photographer, with whom he has two children: a son, Patrick Michael James Sajak (born September 22, 1990), who is a doctor, having earned his medical degree in 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BySMdD9bHG0|title=Pat Congratulates His Son, Dr. Sajak!|date=May 31, 2021|author=Wheel of Fortune|website=YouTube|access-date=June 8, 2023|archive-date=June 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608203646/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BySMdD9bHG0|url-status=live}} and a daughter, Maggie Marie Sajak (born January 5, 1995), who is a social correspondent on Wheel of Fortune.{{cite web|url=https://www.nypost.com/2021/09/09/pat-sajaks-daughter-maggie-joins-wheel-of-fortune/|title=Pat Sajak's Daughter Maggie joins 'Wheel of Fortune'|website=New York Post|date=September 9, 2021|first=Samanthat|last=Ibrahim|access-date=June 8, 2023|archive-date=June 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608203656/https://nypost.com/2021/09/09/pat-sajaks-daughter-maggie-joins-wheel-of-fortune/|url-status=live}} They live in Severna Park, Maryland,{{cite web|url=http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/pat-sajaks-house-1/|title=Pat Sajak's House in Severna Park, MD (#2)|date=May 18, 2009|access-date=March 6, 2010|archive-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516143209/http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/pat-sajaks-house-1/|url-status=live}} with a second home in Los Angeles.{{cite news|first=Aaron|last=Barnhart|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/05/12/wheel-of-very-good-fortune-for-sajak/|title=Wheel of Very Good Fortune for Sajak|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=May 12, 2005|access-date=March 2, 2015|archive-date=March 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309153926/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-05-12/features/0505120079_1_wheel-tapings-game-show|url-status=live}}

Sajak is featured as a narrator in a brief film shown at the visitor center at Mount Vernon, the residence of George Washington, where he explains to tourists the attractions of the site.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102301359.html|title=Fleshing Out a Founding Father|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 24, 2006|last=Trescott|first=Jacqueline|access-date=December 29, 2017|archive-date=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713175713/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102301359.html|url-status=live}} From 1998 until the end of 2021, Sajak owned Maryland-based AM radio station WNAV in Annapolis.

Sajak is a Republican, and has written a number of columns for the conservative magazine Human Events.{{Cite web|url=http://humanevents.com/author/pat-sajak/|title=Author: Pat Sajak | Human Events|date=January 1, 1970|website=humanevents.com|access-date=May 1, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307132304/https://humanevents.com/author/pat-sajak/|url-status=dead}} He is also a regular poster and podcast participant on the conservative blog Ricochet.com.{{Cite web|url=https://ricochet.com/membership/|title=Join the Conversation on Ricochet.com|website=Ricochet|access-date=July 30, 2022|archive-date=July 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730172127/https://ricochet.com/membership/|url-status=live}} Sajak rejects the scientific consensus on climate change.{{cite news |url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2014/05/21/%E2%80%98wheel-fortune%E2%80%99-host-pat-sajak-under-fire-global-warming-tweet |title='Wheel of Fortune' Host Pat Sajak Under Fire for Global Warming Tweet?! |website=Fox News |date=May 21, 2014 |access-date=December 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320221957/http://insider.foxnews.com/2014/05/21/%E2%80%98wheel-fortune%E2%80%99-host-pat-sajak-under-fire-global-warming-tweet |archive-date=March 20, 2015 |quote=Sajak has long acknowledged that he is a climate change skeptic. }}{{Cite web |last=D'Addario |first=Daniel |date=May 20, 2014 |title=Pat Sajak's vicious climate change denial, and the world of conservative game show hosts |url=https://www.salon.com/2014/05/20/pat_sajaks_vicious_climate_change_denial_and_the_world_of_conservative_game_show_hosts/ |access-date=December 24, 2022 |website=Salon |language=en |archive-date=December 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224185416/https://www.salon.com/2014/05/20/pat_sajaks_vicious_climate_change_denial_and_the_world_of_conservative_game_show_hosts/ |url-status=live }} He is also a financial supporter of the Young America's Foundation, which sponsors conservative speakers on college campuses.{{cite news|last1=Saul|first1=Stephanie|title=The Conservative Force Behind Speeches Roiling College Campuses|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/20/us/college-conservative-speeches.html|access-date=May 20, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=May 20, 2017|archive-date=May 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520182545/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/20/us/college-conservative-speeches.html|url-status=live}} Sajak noted in his last appearance as host of the game show that he did not include politics into his hosting duties, saying that the show included "no social issues, no politics" and was "just a game."{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/06/07/pat-sajak-wheel-of-fortune-goobye/74013820007/|title=How Pat Sajak says farewell to 'Wheel of Fortune' viewers in final episode|first=Bryan|last=Alexander|publisher=USA Today|date=June 7, 2024|accessdate=June 7, 2024}}

In 2005, Sajak became an investor in the Golden Baseball League, an independent professional baseball league with teams in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Alberta, British Columbia, and Baja California.[http://www.goldenbaseball.com/subcontent.aspx?SecID=126 Golden Baseball League Ownership Group (Biographies)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803192633/http://www.goldenbaseball.com/subcontent.aspx?SecID=126 |date=August 3, 2008 }}[https://www.correctvibe.com/pat-sajak-43966/ Is Pat Sajak Still Alive? Pat Sajak Biography, Net Worth, Career, Age, Wife] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701115355/https://www.correctvibe.com/pat-sajak-43966/ |date=July 1, 2022 }} (Correctvibe.com, Retrieved March 9, 2022) During a guest appearance in the broadcast booth at a March 2012 Baltimore Orioles – Boston Red Sox spring-training game,{{cite web|url=http://www.nesn.com/2012/03/bobby-valentine-meets-with-wheel-of-fortune-host-pat-sajak-prior-to-red-sox-orioles-game-photo.html|title=Bobby Valentine Meets With 'Wheel of Fortune' Host Pat Sajak Prior to Red Sox-Orioles Game (Photo)|work=NESN|date=March 23, 2012|publisher=WordPress|access-date=April 23, 2013}} Sajak acknowledged that he had called some baseball games in the past.

Sajak is an avid fan of the Washington Capitals NHL team. He is a longtime season-ticket holder and made an on-ice appearance before game three of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/2/joe-gibbs-pat-sajak-sting-among-celebs-supporting-/ |title=Joe Gibbs, Pat Sajak, Sting among celebs supporting Capitals at Game 3 |date=June 2, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Times |first=Adam |last=Zielonka |access-date=June 11, 2019 |archive-date=June 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618224708/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/2/joe-gibbs-pat-sajak-sting-among-celebs-supporting-/ |url-status=live }}

Sajak underwent emergency intestinal surgery to remove a blockage on November 8, 2019.{{cite news|last1=Haas|first1=Mariah|title=Wheel of Fortune' host Pat Sajak recovering from emergency surgery, Vanna White to fill in|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/wheel-of-fortune-pat-sajak-emergency-surgery-vanna-white-host|work=Fox News|date=November 8, 2019|location=New York City|publisher=Fox Corporation|access-date=November 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109010138/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/wheel-of-fortune-pat-sajak-emergency-surgery-vanna-white-host|archive-date=November 9, 2019}}{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/tv/wheel-of-fortune-pat-sajak-emergency-surgery/|title=Wheel of Fortune's Pat Sajak Recovering From Emergency Surgery; Vanna White to Host in His Absence|first=Gillian|last=Telling|magazine=People|location=New York City|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109014519/https://people.com/tv/wheel-of-fortune-pat-sajak-emergency-surgery/|archive-date=November 9, 2019}} While Sajak recovered, co-host Vanna White hosted in his place. The first taping day in which he was incapacitated was a Disney-themed Christmas episode week. Disney characters took over White's role at the puzzle board for that week. Sajak's daughter, Maggie, also helped White for a week.{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-maggie-sajak-returns-wheel-20200107-6rrgt5givnaqpc663lvbhrt75q-story.html |title='Special letter-toucher' Maggie Sajak appears on 'Wheel of Fortune' as host dad Pat recovers from surgery |date=January 7, 2020 |newspaper=New York Daily News |first=Jami |last=Ganz |access-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112114756/https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-maggie-sajak-returns-wheel-20200107-6rrgt5givnaqpc663lvbhrt75q-story.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|first=Samantha|last=Kubota|url=https://www.today.com/health/wheel-fortune-taping-interrupted-pat-sajak-emergency-surgery-vanna-white-t166810|title='Wheel of Fortune' taping interrupted for Pat Sajak emergency surgery, Vanna White to host|website=TODAY.com|language=en|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=November 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109020213/https://www.today.com/health/wheel-fortune-taping-interrupted-pat-sajak-emergency-surgery-vanna-white-t166810|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2019/11/08/pat-sajak-emergency-surgery-vanna-white-hosting-wheel-of-fortune/|title=Pat Sajak Sidelined By Emergency Surgery, Vanna White To Host|website=TMZ|language=en|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=November 1, 2019|archive-date=November 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109004838/https://www.tmz.com/2019/11/08/pat-sajak-emergency-surgery-vanna-white-hosting-wheel-of-fortune/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pat-sajak-daughter-maggie-turns-letters-on-wheel-of-fortune-as-vanna-white-takes-over-hosting-duties/ |title=Pat Sajak's daughter turns letters on 'Wheel of Fortune' as Vanna White takes over hosting duties |date=January 7, 2020 |work=CBS News |first=Caitlin |last=O'Kane |access-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112033700/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pat-sajak-daughter-maggie-turns-letters-on-wheel-of-fortune-as-vanna-white-takes-over-hosting-duties/ |url-status=live }} Sajak returned to work on December 5, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/838216/pat-sajak-return-wheel-of-fortune-surgery/|title='Wheel of Fortune's Pat Sajak Returns to Work Following Surgery|website=TV Insider|language=en-US|access-date=December 10, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210222734/https://www.tvinsider.com/838216/pat-sajak-return-wheel-of-fortune-surgery/|date=December 6, 2019|archive-date=December 10, 2019}}

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{{s-media}}

{{s-bef|before=Chuck Woolery}}

{{s-ttl|title=Host of Wheel of Fortune (daytime)|years=December 28, 1981–January 9, 1989}}

{{s-aft|after=Rolf Benirschke}}

{{s-new|show}}

{{s-ttl|title=Host of Wheel of Fortune (syndicated)|years=September 19, 1983–December 6, 2019}}

{{s-aft|rows=2|after=Vanna White}}

{{s-bef|rows=2|before=Vanna White}}

{{s-ttl|title=Host of Wheel of Fortune (syndicated)|years=December 23, 2019–January 3, 2020}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Host of Wheel of Fortune (syndicated)|years=January 13, 2020–June 7, 2024}}

{{S-aft|after=Ryan Seacrest}}

{{succession box | title=College Bowl host| before=Art Fleming | after=Dick Cavett
1987| years=1984 (Televised semifinals and finals)}}

{{s-ach|aw}}

{{s-bef|before=Bob Barker|rows=2}}

{{s-ttl|title=Daytime Emmy Award for
Outstanding Game Show Host|years=1993}}

{{s-aft|after=Bob Barker}}

{{s-ttl|title=Daytime Emmy Award for
Outstanding Game Show Host|years=1997–1998}}

{{s-aft|after=Ben Stein and Jimmy Kimmel}}

{{s-bef|before=Keke Palmer
2024 (Jan.)}}

{{s-ttl|title=Primetime Emmy Award for
Outstanding Host of a Game Show|years=2024 (Sept.)}}

{{s-inc|recent}}

{{s-bef|before=Agnes Nixon}}

{{s-ttl|title=Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award
at the Daytime Emmy Awards|years=2011|with=Alex Trebek}}

{{s-aft|after=Bill Geddie}}

{{s-end}}

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