Pat Sajak

Pat Sajak Headshot

Game Show Host • Personality

Birth Date: October 26, 1946

Age: 77 years old

Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois

Children: Maggie Sajak

Pat Sajak, the widely recognized and beloved host of the popular game show "Wheel of Fortune," began his career in entertainment when he won a contest as a teenager to be a guest teen deejay on a radio show in 1965. Sajak then became a newscaster for a small local radio station while he was attending Columbia College in Chicago. He joined the army in 1968 after dropping out of college and was stationed in Vietnam, where he was a morning show host for Armed Forces Radio. Upon returning to the United States, Sajak began working as a desk clerk at a hotel in Washington, but left to join a small radio station in Murray, Ky. Unhappy with this position, he left after a year for Nashville, Tennessee, where he began working for WSM-TV in a variety of roles. In 1977, after gaining the attention of a talent scout, Sajak joined KNBC-TV in Los Angeles as a weather forecaster and the host of a weekend talk show. Producer Merv Griffin took notice of Sajak's charisma, and in 1981, asked him to host "Wheel of Fortune," then a daytime television game show that moved to its regular nighttime slot in 1983. Not content to rest on his laurels, Sajak has also made many guest appearances on other shows, including "Days of Our Lives" and "The Larry Sanders Show."

Credits

Muppets Haunted MansionStream

Actor
Bust
Special
2021

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune from ABC

Actor
Show
2021

Celebrity Wheel of FortuneStream

Host
Game Show
2021

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune: Extras

Actor
Show
2020

American Valor: We Stand Together

Narrator
Show
2020

Uncommon Knowledge

Guest
Show
2019

Macy's 90th Thanksgiving Day Parade Special

Guest
Show
2016

Fresh Off the BoatStream

Guest Star
Himself
Series
2015
94%

The American Veterans Center Honors

Actor
Show
2014

Sullivan & Son

Guest Star
Show
2012

The 85th Anniversary of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Guest
Show
2011

The 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards

Guest
Show
2011

The Bonnie Hunt Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Live With Regis and Kelly

Host
Show
2001

The King of QueensStream

Guest Star
Series
1998

The CommishStream

Guest Star
Dr. Brian Brandon
Series
1991

RugratsStream

Guest Voice
Pat Sajak
Series
1991

The Pat Sajak Show

Host
Talk
1989

Super PasswordStream

Guest
Game Show
1984

Gimme a Break!Stream

Guest Star
Series
1981

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Password PlusStream

Guest
Game Show
1979

Wheel of FortuneStream

Host
Game Show
1975

News about
Pat Sajak

Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Flubs Answer During Express Wedge and Goes Bankrupt

Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Catches Ex-Cop ‘Lying’ About Letter Choice

Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Gets Snarky as Contestants Miss ‘Easy’ Answer

Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Vanna White Reveals Why She’s Not Ready to Retire

Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Mom & Daughter Miss Out on Huge Win – See Pat Sajak React (VIDEO)

Liz and KC on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Fall In Love With 92-Year-Old Contestant & Her Son (VIDEO)

Wheel of Fortune Matthew Rice

‘Wheel of Fortune’: See Pat Sajak React After Contestant’s Massive Puzzle Fail

Wheel of Fortune Veterans Week Pete

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Reacts as Military Vet Misses Out on $40,000

Ken Jennings hosts Jeopardy!

Why ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Ken Jennings Thinks He’s More Like Pat Sajak Than Alex Trebek

Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Wins Big on ‘Impossible’ Puzzle – See Pat Sajak’s Reaction

Puzzle stumps Wheel of Fortune contestants

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Apologizes After ‘Terrible’ Puzzle Stumps Contestants

Vanna White and Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Vanna White on Pat Sajak’s Moods, Ryan Seacrest’s Texts & More

Pat Sajak — 'Wheel of Fortune'

‘Wheel of Fortune’: See Pat Sajak React to Contestant’s Retirement Tribute to Him (VIDEO)

'Wheel of Fortune'

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Reacts After Contestant Blows $1 Million Chance

Rashad Jennings — 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'

‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’: NFL Star Rashad Jennings Makes Epic Fail on Easy Puzzle

Pat Sajak and contestant on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Wins Big After Sharing Emotional Story With Pat Sajak

Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa at Paley Center

Kelly Ripa Has ‘Concerns’ About Ryan Seacrest Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’

Wheel of Fortune puzzle board

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Called Out After Accepting Incorrect Answer

Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Stunned After Contestant Solves ‘Impossible’ Puzzle (VIDEO)

Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune

Vanna White Opens Up About ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Salary Negotiations

Vanna White and Pat Sajak in 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Season 4 teaser

Vanna White Admits She Thought About Quitting ‘Wheel of Fortune’

Vanna White, Maggie Sajak, and Pat Sajak on 'Wheel of Fortune'

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Vanna White Touts Maggie Sajak to Replace Her on Show

Vanna White and Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Responds to ‘Teacher’s Week’ Punctuation Controversy

Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Makes Embarrassing Error Without Vanna White

Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Blast ‘Worst Clue Ever’ as Contestant Misses Out on $40,000

Vanna White and Pat Sajak — 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'
Exclusive

Are ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’ Players ‘Normal’? Pat Sajak & Vanna White Debate (VIDEO)

Wheel of Fortune puzzle

See Pat Sajak’s Reaction as ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Solves ‘Impossible’ Puzzle (VIDEO)

Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans React After Contestant’s Epic Last Letter Fail

Ryan Seacrest

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Ryan Seacrest Says ‘You Don’t Mess With’ Show’s Success

Vanna White and Pat Sajak on 'Wheel of Fortune'

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Vanna White Apologizes After Contestant Reveals Past Encounter

Contestant wins big on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Wins Big After Sharing Moving Story With Pat Sajak

Pat Sajak and Vanna White of 'Wheel of Fortune'

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Turns 40, But Do You Remember the Other Versions?

Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Ryan Seacrest Discusses Whether Vanna White Will Stay on Show

Whoopi Goldberg, Ken Jennings, and Pat Sajak

Will ‘Jeopardy!,’ ‘Wheel of Fortune’ & ‘The View’ Be Forced Off Air by Writers’ Strike?

Contestant stumped on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Blast ‘Terrible’ Puzzle as Contestant Misses Out on Car

Contestant stumped on Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Slam ‘Impossible’ Puzzle After Contestant Loses $50,000

Vanna White and Pat Sajak in 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Season 4 teaser

‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’ Reveals ‘Ted Lasso,’ ‘Ghosts,’ ‘Wednesday’ Stars & More as Season 4 Players

Pat Sajak on 'Wheel of Fortune'

How Pat Sajak Kicked Off His Final ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Season

Vanna White and Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune

Pat Sajak’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Farewell: Golden Memories, Vanna White & Fans’ Tributes

Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Defend Vanna White, Slam Ryan Seacrest Ahead of Pat Sajak’s Exit

Vanna White on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

Vanna White Back on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ But For How Much Longer?

Maggie Sajak and Vanna White

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Want Maggie Sajak to Replace Vanna White

Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Vanna White Salary Demands Revealed

Vanna White on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

Vanna White Gets Pay Raise to Stay on ‘Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune’

Wheel of Fortune Bobbleheads

Where to Get Your Pat Sajak & Vanna White ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Bobbleheads

Vanna White and Pat Sajak for 'Wheel of Fortune'

Vanna White ‘Wants Huge Pay Raise’ to Stay at ‘Wheel of Fortune’

ryan-seacrest-pat-sajak-vanna-white-wheel-of-fortune - 1

Ryan Seacrest Replacing Pat Sajak as ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Alongside Vanna White

Andy Cohen on the red carpet

‘Wheel of Fortune’ New Host: Andy Cohen Says It Would Be His Dream Job

Vanna White and Pat Sajak for 'Wheel of Fortune'

Pat Sajak’s Job After ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Revealed: What the Game Show Host Will Do Next

Ryan Seacrest speaks onstage during the Times Square New Year's Eve 2022 Celebration

Ryan Seacrest ‘in Talks’ to Replace Pat Sajak as ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host

Pat Sajak on 'Wheel of Fortune'

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak to Retire as Host After Season 41

Wheel of Fortune puzzle board

Fans React as ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestants Flub ‘Star Wars’ Puzzle

Wheel of Fortune puzzle board

See ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant React After Huge Win on ‘Star Wars’ Week

Grandma and grandson solve tricky Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Amazed by ‘Unbelievable Solve’ (VIDEO)

Contestant fails on final Wheel of Fortune puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Blast Show After ‘Impossible’ Puzzle Costs Contestant $100,000

Maggie and Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak’s Daughter Maggie to Fill In for Vanna White

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Makes Huge Blunder, Loses Dream Vacation & Sparks Big Reaction From Rival

Vanna White, Mayim Bialik, and Ken Jennings on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

See Ken Jennings React After Mayim Bialik Flubs ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Answer

Timmy on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Is Branded ‘Most Annoying Ever’

Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik hosting Jeopardy!

Jeopardy! Hosts Ken Jennings & Mayim Bialik to Face Off in ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Special

Wheel of Fortune puzzle flub

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak & Fans React to Contestant’s Funny Flub

Alexa Hoekstra and Pat Sajak on 'Wheel of Fortune'

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Fans Debate Alexa’s Bonus Round Answer

Wheel of Fortune flip phone puzzle

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Mock Puzzle That Left Pat Sajak Looking Embarrassed

Xavier Woods on Wheel's WWE Week

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Slam ‘Low-Brow’ WWE-Themed Week

WWE contestants on Wheel of Fortune

‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Cracks Up at Contestant’s NSFW Answer (VIDEO)

Vanna White and Pat Sajak on 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'

‘Wheel of Fortune’: 7 Wildest & Wackiest Moments on the Game Show (VIDEO)