Pat Sajak Biography

People often question if Wheel Of Fortune host Pat Sajak is gay. (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty) Some users were supportive of the Sajak, who’s been a host of the show since the early 1980s. Pat Sajak has been hosting Wheel of Fortune for nearly 40 years, but there's one segment of the show he wasn't a big fan of. During the Wednesday night episode of the long-running game show, one contestant reminisced about the show's shopping rounds, but Sajak was quick to nip that in the bud. Pat Sajak, 74, had a meltdown on today's episode of Wheel of Fortune Credit: ABC In the show, contestant Darin McBain was following in his mom's footsteps after she was a three-day champion in 1982. Sajak, 73, has been hosting Wheel of Fortune for almost 40 years and is signed to continue hosting through 2022. In December, he told Good Morning America he is considering retiring in two to three years. 0 comments 'I'd rather leave a couple years too early than a couple years too late,' he explained. Pat Sajak at The Paley Center For Media Presents Wheel Of Fortune 35 Years As America's Game on November 15, 2017, in New York City Photo: Getty Images People Feb 01, 2020 Pat Sajak from 'Wheel of Fortune' Posts Photo of Himself in Sunglasses & Trench Coat after Returning to the Show.

Pat Sajak (Patrick Leonard Sajdak) is an American Television personality, best known as host of the popular game show ‘Wheels of Fortune’. He also served as an anchor and a weatherman for ‘NBC.’

Pat Sajak Age

He was born on October 26, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

Pat Sajak Height

Sajak is 1.77m tall.

Pat Sajak Education

Sajak graduated from Farragut High School in 1964. Later, he went to Columbia College in Chicago. He worked as a desk clerk at the Palmer House Hotel while he was a college student.

Pat Sajak Parents

He is the son of Joyce Helen and Leonard Anthony Sajdak, a factory worker. His father died when he was young. After his father’s death, his mother married Walter Backal.

Pat Sajak Siblings

He has a brother, David Sajdak and a half brother William Backal.

Pat Sajak Wife

Sajak married his first wife, Sherrill Sajak in 1979 and they divorced in 1986. Three years after his divorce, he started dating Lesly Brown and married her in 1989. Lesly is a photographer. The family lives in a massive mansion in Maryland, with a second home in Los Angeles.

Pat Sajak Kids

He has a son, Patrick Michael James who was born on September 22, 1990, and a daughter, Maggie Marie who was born on January 5, 1995.

Pat Sajak Wheel of Fortune

Pat worked as a D.J. in the early 1970s. He started gaining fame and then got a voiceover job at NBC’s Today Show. This became a stepping stone towards his anchoring career. He also became the weatherman for KNBC-TV.

In 1981, the channel offered him a chance to host the game show, “Wheel of Fortune.” However, the president and CEO of NBC did not like the decision and Pat hosted other game shows, “Press Your Luck,” and “Puzzlers.”

He started hosting the show in 1983 and hosted the show for a total of six years. He then hosted a CBS late-night talk show.

In 1982, he had a cameo role in the comedy film, “Airplane II: The Sequel,” as a newscaster. In another game show, “Super Password,” he appeared recurrently from 1984 to 1989. Similarly, he had a guest appearance in the game shows, “Dream House,” and “Just Men!”

He has also worked with other channels. In CBS, he hosted his own night talk show, “The Pat Sajak Show,” in for two years, 1989 and 1990. He also appeared as a guest host in the talk show, “Larry King Live,” of CNN. Similarly, he worked in a morning talk show, “Live with Regis and Kelly.” In 2003, with the Fox News Channel, he started the show, “Pat Sajak Weekend,” premiered on every Sunday nights. In 1983, he had his appearance in the soap opera, “Days of Our Lives,” as the role of Kevin Hathaway. Then in 1993, he starred in animated series, “Rugrats.”

Pat designed his game show titled “Lucky Letters” in 2007. He also made appearances in two radio programs. Currently, he is the director of “Eagle Publishing House”, which is a conservative institution. He is also a board member of trustees at the Hillsdale College located in Michigan. Pat is also a vice-chairman of the college. Additionally, he is also a board member of the Claremont Institute.

Meanwhile, in 2019, Pat made the world record of being the longest-running host of any game show. Hosting the “Wheel of Fortune,” on May 8, he held the record of 38 years and 198 days. He has a contract signed with the show until 2022. In November 2019, he underwent surgery and the co-host of the show, Vanna White took over his place. Pat returned after a couple of weeks, on December 5.

Pat Sajak Surgery

On November 8, 2019, Sajak underwent emergency intestinal surgery to remove a blockage. While he recovered, co-host Vanna White hosted in his place. The first taping day in which Sajak was incapacitated was a Disney-themed Christmas episode week, and Disney characters took over White’s role at the puzzle board for that week.

Sajak returned to work on December 5, 2019.

Pat Sajak Salary

Sajak earns a yearly salary of $15 million.

Pat Sajak Net Worth

He is reportedly worth $65 million, making him one of the richest TV show hosts in 2019.

Pat Sajak Years On Wheel Of Fortune Sweepstakes

Pat Sajak Instagram

Pat Sajak Twitter

He has no twitter account.

Pat Sajak has been hosting Wheel of Fortunefor nearly 40 years, but there's one segment of the show he wasn't a big fan of. During the Wednesday night episode of the long-running game show, one contestant reminisced about the show's shopping rounds, but Sajak was quick to nip that in the bud. 'The most boring three minutes of television,' he said.

Wheel of Fortune's old format involved players using their winnings to shop a large selection of prizes displayed on a spinning stage, including home goods and other occasionally random items. This element of the game was eliminated from the syndicated version of the show in 1987, which Sajak began hosting in 1983. Speaking to co-host Vanna White of the shopping segments, Sajak said, 'I don’t miss them.'

'In retrospect [you think], 'Oh, that was kind of fun,’ but, really, it was this thing going around with the [contestant’s] head in a circle… It was really not exciting television,' he explained. 'We like it just the way it is.' White agreed, noting that the show 'is so much better now.'

This quote wasn't the first time Sajak expressed his dislike for the shopping segment — in the early 2000s, he answered fan questions on his website, PatSajak,com, and shared that he wouldn't be bringing back the old format. 'Trust me, it was the most boring two minutes in television as shoppers hemmed and hawed over whether they wanted the dining room table or the floor lamp,' he wrote, via Fandom.

Last week, the host playfully criticized a contestant who had questioned producers' word choice in regards to his show-winning puzzle. 'Don’t! You won! Don’t argue, Darin! … You got the puzzle. Ungrateful players! I’ve had it!' Sajak exclaimed. 'No, I’m just teasing. I finally snapped!'

Pat Sajak Wheel Of Fortune Retire

On Friday, the 74-year-old sent a more upbeat message to fans of the show, teaming with White and announcer Jim Thornton for a video wishing viewers a Merry Christmas.

Pat Sajak Been On Wheel Of Fortune

'Ho ho ho!' Sajak exclaimed as Thornton echoed him. 'Maybe I'll practice my elf,' Sajak remarked before White concluded with, 'Happy holidays from 'Wheel'!' 'Sending love and joy to the best fans in the world!' the video's caption read. '#MerryChristmas, Wheel Watchers!'