Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajak lands acting role after leaving game show in first job during retirement

WHEEL of Fortune star Pat Sajak has landed his first post-retirement gig ahead of his final show.

The game show host is gearing up to show off his acting chops in an unexpected way.

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Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak has landed his next job

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The game show host is set to act in a stage playCredit: KHON2 News
Pat, 77, has been cast in a community theater production called Prescription: Murder, according to TMZ.

The theater is located in Hawaii and will also star Joe Moore, a newscaster for KHON-TV.

The Wheel of Fortune host is set to lead the play, which will kick off next summer.

The play inspired the popular series Columbo.

Pat will play a psychiatrist who comes up with a murder plot while Joe is set to play the lead detective caught in a game of chase with the doctor.

This isn’t the first time Pay has acted in the Hawaii Theatre.

Pat and Joe have often acted together in state productions at Hawaii Theatre.

The duo appeared in The Odd Couple, The Honeymooners, The Boys in Autumn, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, Dial M for Murder, and The Sunshine Boys.

Tickets are on sale to see Prescription: Murder, but the show will not hit the stage until July 2025.

MOVING ON

Pat’s final episode of Wheel of Fortune is set to air on Friday, meaning he will have plenty of time off before he starts acting.

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There has been limited fanfare about the longtime host’s exit from the game show, but he has spoken openly about his plans for the future.

An insider exclusively told The U.S. Sun what Pat intends to do after he signs off for the final time at the end of this week.

“You can sum up Pat’s retirement plans in one word: Retirement,” the source said.

“Meaning, even though he has the looks and energy of somebody 25 years younger than he actually is, he has no plans to turn around and host another TV show.

Wheel of Fortune Host Timeline

Although Pat and Vanna have been a staple on the game show for decades, there have been other hosts

Chuck Woolery was the host from 1975 to 1981

He co-hosted alongside Susan Stafford (1975 to 1982)

Vanna White then stepped in as hostess in 1982 and has been ever since

After a contract and salary dispute, the show got rid of Chuck and brought in Pat in 1982

Pat hosted with Susan for one season

He then left the game show in 1989 to host a late-night talk show for CBS

For five months, NFL player Rolf Benirschke took his place

In July 1989, Bob Goen hosted the show on CBS

He hosted for a year and a half until the show was canceled in 1991

The show was then moved to ABC with Pat and Vanna hosting for the foreseeable future

In 2023, Pat announced his retirement and Ryan Seacrest as quickly named as his replacement

“His consultancy deal with Sony is a pretty deliberate buffer against that.”

The insider added that when Pat isn’t filming Wheel of Fortune, he is focused on a “peaceful and happy home life,” and his wife, Lesly Brown’s, charity.

‘PERFECTLY HAPPY’

Pat also talked about retiring in an interview with his daughter, Maggie Sajak, on Good Morning America.

He told the 29-year-old he is looking forward to some simple pleasures.

“I’m perfectly happy if it just means that I’ll continue with my crossword puzzles and play with grandchildren. Hint hint,” he said.

Maggie, who is dating Scottish actor Ross McCall, laughed off the comment.

“No pressure,” she joked.

Pat’s final episode will air on June 7.

The show was filmed in April, meaning the star has likely been enjoying some downtime ahead of the official end of his time on the show.

He’s set to be replaced by Ryan Seacrest.

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He previously shared some thoughts on retirement in an interview with daughter Maggie SajakCredit: Getty

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Pat has hosted Wheel of Fortune for 40 yearsCredit: Getty

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He has said he plans to keep things simple once he’s retiredCredit: Getty