Pat Sajak Retiring? Longtime 'Wheel of Fortune' Host Says 'End Is Near'
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Sajak has been with the gameshow since 1981.
Pat Sajak’s Wheel of Fortune run might be coming to an end sooner rather than later.
During an interview with ET, Sajak reflected on his many years with the beloved game show, while acknowledging that the good times must come to an end eventually.
"In most television shows by this time, you would have said, 'That’s probably enough,' but this show will not die," he explained, adding, "It appears I may go before the show.”
The iconic series premiered in 1975 as a daytime series. Sajak replaced former host Chuck Woolery in 1981, and the syndicated version of the show we’ve come to love officially launched Sept. 19, 1983, so it’s safe to say Sajak has been around since the beginning.
As the game show enters its 40th season, the 75-year-old can’t help but wonder what’s next.
"Years go by fast. We're getting near the end. It's been a long [time]. We're not gonna do this for another 40 years. The end is near," he explained.
It’s not lost on him what the show has meant to fans, taking the time to thank the audience for their unwavering support over the years. “It's an honor to have been in people's living rooms for that long. People were out there welcoming us. We're happy and proud,” he told the outlet.
It’s unclear when Sajak and his longtime co-host, Vanna White, might retire, but for now, they are focused not only on the current season, which premiered on Sept. 12, but also on the upcoming season 3 premiere of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
White told the outlet that what audiences love most about the primetime special is “seeing celebrities and watching them be themselves and not play a character.”
She continued: "When they come on here, they are themselves, they have a good time, they're playing for a great cause, so it's good for everybody."
White admitted she’s especially excited about self-proclaimed game show fan Snoop Dogg—who will appear on the season premiere episode on Sept. 25—while Sajak has his fingers crossed Meryl Streep will one day decide to spin the wheel and test her luck.
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