Pat Sajak will wind down his record-breaking spin hosting “Wheel of Fortune” on Friday night. Here’s what to know about the game show icon’s decadeslong tenure on the show. The “Wheel of Fortune” Season 41 finale, titled “Thanks for the Memories,” airs at 6:30 p.
m. CT Friday on ABC. Thursday’s penultimate episode included from Sajak’s longtime co-host, Vanna White.
Sajak has hosted the Hangman-style game show for more than 40 years, stepping in for original host Chuck Woolery during the second season in 1982, when “America’s Game” still aired on daytime television. “Wheel of Fortune” debuted in 1975 with Woolery and Susan Stafford leading the show before departed over a salary dispute with NBC. Legendary producer hired Sajak and famous letter-turner White in 1982, and the two have become fixtures of the series.
In 2019, Sajak scored the for longest career as a game show host on the same show. He will retire with almost 8,000 episodes to his name. He earned three Daytime Emmy Awards as game show host during his run and a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
He also has a People’s Choice Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame credited to his “Wheel” run. In 2021, “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” premiered in prime time on ABC with Sajak usually serving as host. The 77-year-old his retirement a year ago, writing on X (formerly Twitter) that the current season would be his last.
In an interview with his daughter, “Wheel”.
