Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak announces he’s RETIRING at age 76 after 41 seasons
Pat Sajak says he is retiring from Wheel of Fortune after more than four decades.
‘Well, the time has come,’ the popular host, 76, said in a tweet Monday. ‘I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last.
He continued: ‘It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)’
A tweet from the long-running game show read: ‘Thank you to the best host in the biz. Wheel of Fortune would not be what it is today without you, Pat. Looking forward to Season 41 being better than ever!’
According to iMDb Monday, Sajak has hosted 7748 episodes of the nighttime edition of the series to date from 1983–2023.
The latest: Pat Sajak, 76, says he is retiring from Wheel of Fortune after more than four decades
Details: Sajak made the announcement on his Twitter page Monday afternoon
Sajak’s longtime costar on the popular game show, Vanna White, 66, had not yet addressed his departure from the series on her Instagram or Twitter accounts as of Monday afternoon.
Suzanne Prete, the executive vice president of game shows for Sony Pictures Television, issued a statement saying, ‘As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years.
‘We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season.’
Prete said that Sajak ‘has agreed to continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting,’ adding, ‘We’re thrilled to have him remaining close to the Wheel of Fortune family!’
Sajak has hosted the nighttime edition of the show with White since 1983. He got his start as host of the daytime series beginning in 1981, exiting that edition to host his own late night series in 1989. The daytime edition was canceled in 1991.
He has been been nominated for Daytime Emmys 22 times for his hosting efforts on the series and its spinoffs, winning three times. In 2011, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on the TV staple.
Sajak has been a consistent presence on the long-running series over the duration of his four decades at the helm, rarely missing a show.
In an instance in November of 1996 when he was battling laryngitis, he and White swapped duties for the episode.
A tweet from the long-running game show confirmed the host’s pending exit from the series
Sajak and longtime costar Vanna White have been featured on the game show since 1983. Pictured in the 1980s
The veteran TV personalities were seen hosting Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in early 2020
Sajak has been a consistent presence on the long-running series over the duration of his four decades at the helm, rarely missing a show
Sajak was hailed by a number of fans on Twitter in response to his announcement
He had to take a break from taping in November of 2019 when he had to undergo an emergency intestinal surgery, with White filling in as host.
He hinted at his nascent departure from the series speaking with Entertainment Tonight in September, saying, ‘Years go by fast. We’re getting near the end. We’re not gonna do this for another 40 years. The end is near.’
Sajak is father to two adult children with wife Lesly Brown – son Patrick, 32, and daughter Maggie, 28.
Sajak was hailed by a number of fans in response to his announcement.
‘We’ll miss ya! Happy retirement!’ one fan wrote, while another said, ‘First ballot hall of famer. Induct Pat everywhere!’
Another fan shared the warm words, ‘Always a classic icon in my house of wonderfully dry wit and laughter. Shaped TV in a massive way!
‘Thanks for 42 fantastic years. Congrats, hope retirement is everything and then some for you.’
Said another fan, ‘Things aren’t gonna be the same without you at the helm but it’s been an amazing run.’