Pat Sajak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pat Sajak
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Sajak in 2011
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| Born |
Patrick Leonard Sajdak
October 26, 1946 |
| Alma mater | Columbia College Chicago |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1968–present |
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Notable credit(s)
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Wheel of Fortune (1981–2024) The Pat Sajak Show (1989–1990) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 2; including Maggie |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
US Army |
| Years of service | 1968–1969 |
| Rank | Specialist 5th Class |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Patrick Leonard Sajak (born October 26, 1946) is an American television personality and game show host. He is most famous for hosting the TV game show Wheel of Fortune. He hosted the show from 1981 until 2024.
Pat Sajak won several awards for his work on Wheel of Fortune, including three Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2019, he was recognized by Guinness World Records. He earned the record for having the longest career as a game show host for the same show.
Besides Wheel of Fortune, Sajak appeared in movies and TV shows. These include Airplane II: The Sequel, Days of Our Lives, and Rugrats. He also hosted his own talk show and was a guest host on other popular shows. Sajak has also created several puzzle games.
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Early Life and Military Service
Pat Sajak was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 26, 1946. He finished high school in 1964. After that, he went to Columbia College Chicago while working at a hotel. His family name was originally spelled Sajdak, but he later changed it to Sajak. This change made it easier to say in America.
Sajak joined the U.S. Army and served during the Vietnam War. He worked as a disc jockey for the American Forces Vietnam Network. He hosted a radio show called Dawn Buster. He famously started his show by saying "Good Morning Vietnam!" for 14 months.
Pat Sajak's Career in Television
Pat Sajak started his career in radio. He won a contest to be a guest DJ on a radio show. While in college, he got a job working overnight at a local radio station. In 1968, he joined the U.S. Army and became a DJ for the Armed Forces Radio in Vietnam.
In the early 1970s, Sajak worked as a DJ at radio station WSM in Nashville. The TV station connected to WSM, WSM-TV, soon brought him on screen. He started by doing voiceovers and short newscasts. Later, he became a weekend weatherman.
Hosting Wheel of Fortune
In 1981, TV producer Merv Griffin asked Sajak to host Wheel of Fortune. At first, the president of NBC didn't want to hire him. He thought Sajak was too local. But Griffin insisted, and Sajak got the job.
From 1983 to 1989, Sajak hosted both the daytime and evening versions of Wheel of Fortune. He continued to host the evening version until 2024. In 2018–19, Sajak became the longest-running host of any game show. He passed Bob Barker, who hosted The Price Is Right. Guinness World Records officially recognized this achievement in 2019.
Other TV Appearances
Sajak had a small role in the 1982 comedy movie Airplane II: The Sequel. He played a newscaster. He also appeared on other game shows as a celebrity guest. These included Super Password and Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour.
From 1989 to 1990, Sajak hosted his own late-night talk show on CBS. He also often filled in as a guest host for Larry King Live on CNN. He was also a regular substitute host for Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kelly.
In 1994, Sajak appeared as himself on the children's cartoon show Rugrats. In 1997, he played an April Fool's Day prank on Wheel of Fortune fans. He and Vanna White were contestants, and Alex Trebek hosted. Sajak also hosted a regular episode of Jeopardy! in return.
Since 2020, Sajak has also been a Consulting Producer for Wheel of Fortune. Since 2021, he and Vanna White have hosted Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on ABC.
On June 12, 2023, Pat Sajak announced he would retire as the host of Wheel of Fortune in 2024. His final episode aired on June 7, 2024. Ryan Seacrest was announced as his replacement. Sajak continues to be a show consultant and returned to host Celebrity Wheel of Fortune for its fifth season, which premiered in December 2024.
Personal Life
Pat Sajak is married to Lesly Brown-Sajak, who is a photographer. They have two children. Their son, Patrick Michael James Sajak, became a doctor in 2021. Their daughter, Maggie Marie Sajak, works as a social correspondent on Wheel of Fortune. The family lives in Maryland and also has a home in Los Angeles.
Sajak owned a radio station in Annapolis, Maryland, from 1998 until 2021. He is also featured as a narrator in a short film at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.
Politics and Views
Pat Sajak is a member of the Republican Party. He has written articles for conservative magazines and blogs. He has also supported groups that bring conservative speakers to college campuses. Sajak has stated that he kept politics out of his hosting duties on Wheel of Fortune. He said the show was "just a game" with "no social issues, no politics."
Sports Interests
In 2005, Sajak became an investor in the Golden Baseball League. This was a professional baseball league with teams in different states and Canada. He has also called some baseball games in the past.
Sajak is a big fan of the Washington Capitals NHL team. He has season tickets and has appeared on the ice before their games.
Health
On November 8, 2019, Sajak had emergency surgery for an intestinal blockage. While he recovered, his co-host Vanna White hosted Wheel of Fortune in his place. His daughter, Maggie, also helped White for a week. Sajak returned to work on December 5, 2019.
Images for kids
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Sajak in 2011
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Sajak in an ad for WSM, where he was an afternoon host in the 1970s
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Sajak with Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune, around 1986
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Sajak on Wheel of Fortune in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Pat Sajak para niños
