Checking in with PAT SAJAK
There’s never a guarantee how long someone will have a television job, certainly not for 40 years. Then, there’s Pat Sajak.
The multiple Daytime Emmy winner was a Los Angeles weathercaster when series creator and executive producer Merv Griffin invited him to become the host of “Wheel of Fortune.” As the game’s weeknight version continues in syndication, Sajak and “letter turner” Vanna White also are presiding over the famous-player-driven “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” Thursdays on ABC.
“Part of that is just through longevity, not to be too modest,” Sajak reflects of his enduring popularity that “Wheel” has helped solidify. “If you put a well-trained Labrador Retriever on for 30 years, people would say, ‘Hey. that’s Rusty! I know him!’ ” Still, Sajak believes he has succeeded through recognizing that “the game is the star. Otherwise, you can wear out your welcome pretty quickly.”
A measure of how welcome Sajak remains was the response from “Wheel of Fortune” fans when he required emergency intestinal surgery in late 2019. Allowing that he’s “a pretty private guy,” he recalls that outpouring as “very nice. It was just one of those fluky things, I have no underlying health issues, and my life is back to total normal.”
Had the situation happened at a time when “Wheel” wasn’t in production, Sajak notes, “it’s possible no one even would have known about it ... but they had to tape those shows, because it was our biggest promotion of the year, a big sweepstakes that had to be done by a certain date. So, they had to make the announcement, and what a trouper for Vanna (to substitute as host).”
Birthdate:
Birthplace:
Current residences: Maryland and Los Angeles
Marital status: Married; has two children, son Patrick and country-singer daughter Maggie
On having gone to the “Wheel” studio while recovering from his 2019 surgery: “I dragged myself in for a couple of reasons. I wanted to assure the staff, because our producer was leaving after 25 years, and no one likes change ... and now, the host was in the hospital. I wanted to show them that I was OK and was going to be fine. I was not strong enough to host, but I got to stand backstage and and support my daughter (who filled in as guest letter turner). And by the way, she did a fabulous job.”
“‘Casablanca.’ ”
Oct. 26, 1946 Chicago Favorite movie:
Favorite TV show you’re not on:
“‘The Great British Baking
Show’... with a nod to ‘The Office.’ ”
Favorite singer: “If you put a (Frank) Sinatra record on, I’m perfectly happy.”