Here's what Pat Sajak is doing next after 'Wheel of Fortune' exit
You probably know Pat Sajak as a prolific performer thanks to his 41 seasons on the game show "Wheel of Fortune." Sajak's first moves in his newfound retirement, however, will remind audiences of his talents beyond the small screen.
Sajak, who bid an emotional farewell on June 7 to fans after decades with the show, is already set to appear on the live stage next summer at a familiar location in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Alongside longtime coworker Joe Moore, a local reporter and actor, Sajak has performed on the Hawaii Theatre Center stage a handful of times over the years, as far back as 1993 and as recently as 2023. This time around, Sajak takes on a leading role alongside his friend, treating audiences to a thrill via murder mystery versus a spin of the wheel.
Here's what we know about Pat Sajak's plans in his "Wheel of Fortune" retirement.
Ryan Seacrest takes over:Watch Pat Sajak welcome Ryan Seacrest on 'Wheel of Fortune' set with Vanna White
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Pat Sajak takes to the stage post-'Wheel of Fortune'
Sajak is taking his performance prowess to a new medium after his departure from TV. The 77-year-old is set to take to the stage in a play called "Prescription: Murder," playing at the Hawaii Theatre Center.
Sajak will appear in the "'Columbo' mystery thriller" alongside "long-time buddy" Moore on the mainstage from July 31 to August 10 of 2025. According to the theatre, Sajak plays a "brilliant psychiatrist" who plots along with his mistress to murder his wife and establish a bizarre alibi in this "theatrical predecessor" to the TV series "Columbo."
This production marks the ninth time Sajak and Moore have appeared on stage together, starting with a 1993 run of “Prophecy and Honor," an original by Moore, followed by "The Odd Couple" in 2001," "The Honeymooners" in 2004, "The Boys in Autumn" in 2010, “Wrestling Ernest Hemingway” in 2014, “Dial M for Murder” in 2018 and “The Sunshine Boys” in 2023.
Sajak and Moore are joined by supporting cast members Bryce Moore, Therese Olival, Amy K. Sullivan, and Aiko Chinen and multi-Po’okela winner Rob Duval who directs the production.
According to the theatre, all net proceeds for the show will support the Hawaii Theatre Center.
Who is Pat Sajak?
Sajak is best known as the longtime host of the game show "Wheel of Fortune." Sajak joined the show in its current iteration in 1983 and has been nominated 19 times for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host, winning three of those times. He likewise received a lifetime achievement award in 2011.
Guinness World Records recognized Sajak as the longest-serving game show host for the same show in 2019.
A Chicago native, Sajak started his career in radio, first serving as a newsman on a local radio station and then as a disk jockey in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, working for the American Forces Vietnam Network. He later worked with local radio and television stations as a DJ and weatherman.
"Well, the time has come to say goodbye," Sajak said to his TV audience during his final show. "It's been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade. And I've always felt that privilege came with the responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game."
Who is the new host of 'Wheel of Fortune?'
Sajak officially handed over the "Wheel of Fortune" host job to none other than Ryan Seacrest.
In a video shared before his final episode on June 7, Sajak and longtime co-host Vanna White welcomed Seacrest, who called the "Wheel" set "impressive."
"Ryan, I think the contestants are going to love you," White told the new host.
Seacrest, 49, is known as an idol in his own right, having taken over the duties of other iconic characters such as Dick Clark on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," later renamed to "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest."
Shortly after Sajak's departure was announced, Seacrest announced that he had signed a multiyear contract to host "Wheel."
In a statement at the time, Seacrest said, “I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak. I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them.”
What else is Pat Sajak doing after 'Wheel of Fortune?'
After retiring from "Wheel," Sajak will continue to work as chairman of the Board of Trustees for the private conservative Christian Hillsdale College.
"For decades, Pat Sajak has been an icon of radio and television," Hillsdale College spokesperson Emily Stack Davis said in a statement to USA TODAY last year. "We know that he will be missed and congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement."
Sajak has been a member of the school's Board of Trustees for decades, serving as vice chairman from 2003 to 2019 and chairman from 2019 onward.
Hillsdale College is known for being one of the few schools in the country that does not take any federal or state funding in order to avoid abiding by federal regulations such as Title IX guidelines, which prevent discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.