Patrick Sajak is an American television personality known for hosting game shows. He was born and raised in Chicago and started his career in radio broadcasting. Notably, he served as a disc jockey for the American Forces Vietnam Network during the Vietnam War.
Pat Sajak was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 26, 1946.
Pat Sajak graduated from Farragut High School in 1964.
Pat Sajak joined the US Army in 1968.
While serving as a disc jockey on Armed Forces Radio, Pat Sajak accidentally cut off President Richard Nixon's 1969 Christmas broadcast to the troops.
This entry is about Pat Sajak. Bob Barker began hosting 'The Price is Right' in 1972.
In 1977, Pat Sajak became a full-time weather reporter for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles.
While working as a meteorologist in the mid-1970s, Pat Sajak's comments about "daytime highs and nighttime lows" inspired Ben Peters to write "Daytime Friends," which became a number one hit for Kenny Rogers in 1977.
Pat Sajak hosted two game show pilots in 1980: 'Press Your Luck' and 'Puzzlers'.
In 1981, Pat Sajak became the host of the popular game show 'Wheel of Fortune'.
Merv Griffin asked Pat Sajak to host 'Wheel of Fortune' in 1981, but the president of NBC initially rejected the idea.
Pat Sajak appeared on the game show 'Password Plus' in 1981.
Pat Sajak had a small role as a newscaster in the 1982 comedy film 'Airplane II: The Sequel'.
From 1983 to 1989, Pat Sajak hosted both the daytime and syndicated evening versions of 'Wheel of Fortune'.
Pat Sajak portrayed Kevin Hathaway in the NBC daytime soap opera 'Days of Our Lives' in 1983.
Pat Sajak appeared on the game show 'Super Password' several times between 1984 and 1989.
Pat Sajak and Vanna White appeared as themselves on an episode of the NBC sitcom "227" in 1986.
Pat Sajak's late-night talk show premiered on CBS on January 9, 1989.
Pat Sajak's late-night talk show premiered on CBS in January 1989.
Pat Sajak left the daytime version of 'Wheel of Fortune' in 1989.
Pat Sajak married Lesly Brown in 1989.
Pat Sajak's late-night talk show premiered on CBS in 1989.
Pat Sajak's late-night talk show on CBS ended on April 13, 1990.
Patrick Michael James Sajak, Pat Sajak's son, was born on September 22, 1990.
Pat Sajak's late-night talk show on CBS ended in 1990.
On November 7, 1992, Pat Sajak appeared as psychologist Brian Brandon in an episode of the TV show "The Commish" titled "The Two Faces of Ed."
Pat Sajak appeared as himself on the children's cartoon show 'Rugrats' in 1994.
Maggie Marie Sajak, Pat Sajak's daughter, was born on January 5, 1995.
For April Fool's Day in 1997, Pat Sajak and Vanna White appeared as contestants on 'Wheel of Fortune' (hosted by Alex Trebek), and Sajak hosted an episode of 'Jeopardy!'.
Pat Sajak bought Maryland-based AM radio station WNAV in Annapolis in 1998.
Pat Sajak appeared as himself in the episode "Inner Tube" on the sitcom 'The King of Queens' in 2001.
Pat Sajak began hosting the syndicated weekly radio sports talk show 'The Pat Sajak Baseball Hour' in 2002.
Pat Sajak hosted 'Pat Sajak Weekend' on Fox News in 2003.
Pat Sajak became an investor in the Golden Baseball League, an independent professional baseball league, in 2005.
'The Pat Sajak Baseball Hour' ended in 2006 due to scheduling conflicts.
Pat Sajak's first puzzle game, "Lucky Letters", debuted in 2007.
This entry is about Pat Sajak. Bob Barker retired from hosting 'The Price is Right' in 2007.
Pat Sajak appeared at the beginning of a 2010 April Fool's episode of 'Jeopardy!' along with Jeff Probst and Neil Patrick Harris.
Pat Sajak began writing for the National Review Online in 2010.
During a guest appearance at a Baltimore Orioles-Boston Red Sox spring training game in March 2012, Pat Sajak shared that he had called some baseball games previously.
Pat Sajak appeared as a celebrity narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional in 2017.
Pat Sajak appeared as a celebrity narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional in 2018.
Pat Sajak returned for his 36th season of hosting 'Wheel of Fortune' in 2018-2019.
Pat Sajak, an avid fan of the Washington Capitals, appeared on the ice before game three of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals.
The episode of 'Wheel of Fortune' where Pat Sajak was officially honored by Guinness World Records for the longest-running host of any game show was taped on March 28, 2019.
The episode of 'Wheel of Fortune' where Pat Sajak was officially honored by Guinness World Records for the longest-running host of any game show aired on May 8, 2019.
Pat Sajak underwent emergency surgery on November 8, 2019, to address an intestinal blockage. Vanna White and Sajak's daughter, Maggie, filled in for him during his recovery.
Pat Sajak returned to work on December 5, 2019, after recovering from emergency intestinal surgery.
Pat Sajak appeared as a celebrity narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional in 2019.
Pat Sajak was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2019 for having the longest-serving career as a game show host for the same show ('Wheel of Fortune').
In 2019, Pat Sajak became the chair of the Hillsdale College board of trustees after serving as vice-chair for 15 years.
Pat Sajak has been credited as a Consulting Producer of 'Wheel of Fortune' since the start of Season 39 in 2020.
In September 2021, Pat Sajak and Vanna White signed on to continue hosting "Wheel of Fortune" through the 2023-24 season.
Pat Sajak and Vanna White began hosting 'Primetime Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' on ABC in 2021.
Pat Sajak became a Consulting Producer of 'Wheel of Fortune' in 2021.
Pat Sajak ended his ownership of Maryland-based AM radio station WNAV in Annapolis at the end of 2021.
Pat Sajak's son, Patrick, earned his medical degree in 2021.
Pat Sajak announced his retirement as host of "Wheel of Fortune" in June 2023, set for after the show's 41st season in 2024.
Pat Sajak's retirement as host of "Wheel of Fortune" is set to take place in 2024, with Ryan Seacrest announced as his replacement.