What Did Pat Sajak Do Before 'Wheel of Fortune'?

"My dad said, 'Contractually, I can shut down the show unless you hire Pat Sajak.' They hired Pat Sajak the next day," Tony Griffin mentioned.

Jun. 7 2024, Published 11:17 a.m. ET

Iconic game display host Pat Sajak came into our houses each week evening for over Forty years as the affable face and voice of Wheel of Fortune.

Alongside the equally-endearing Vanna White, who isn't leaving the display yet, Pat entertained numerous lovers and contestants for an astonishing 8,000 episodes.

But in June 2024, Pat bids farewell to Wheel of Fortune. While fans wonder what's next for the 77-year-old, we additionally need to know what Pat did before his longtime web hosting gig at the puzzle game. Here's what we all know.

So, what did Pat Sajak do before 'Wheel of Fortune'?

Pat's touching good-bye to fanatics was hard to look at, with the icon saying, "Well, the time has come to say goodbye."

"I have a few thanks and acknowledgments before I go, and I want to start with all watching out there," he went on to say. "It's been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade."

Pat also enthused, "Thank you for allowing me into your lives."

For her part, Vanna gushed in a video in part, “As this bankruptcy of our lives is coming to an finish, I know you'll be able to nonetheless be close via. You're like a brother to me and I imagine you a real lifelong good friend who I can all the time adore. I like you, Pat.”

Pat, who in step with Variety plans to megastar in a theater production known as “Prescription: Murder” in Honolulu next, additionally had a existence pre-Wheel of Fortune.

He served in the Vietnam War, in line with USA Today. During that time, he labored on Armed Forces Radio for a morning show.

After the war, Pat appeared on television presentations from Nashville to L.A., and sooner or later stuck the eye of Merv Griffin, who created the game display that might make Pat a household title.

Apparently Merv actually went to bat for Pat with a reluctant network, in need of him to exchange the original host of Wheel, Chuck Woolery.

Merv's son recounted, "My dad said, 'Contractually, I can shut down the show unless you hire Pat Sajak.' They hired Pat Sajak the next day."

Ironically, Pat did not think his time at the show would closing that lengthy.

Ryan Seacrest is poised to take over for Pat Sajak as he embarks on his next bankruptcy.

It may not come as an enormous wonder to lovers that Ryan was a natural choice to replace Pat for the website hosting position on Wheel of Fortune.

The American Idol host said about his new function, "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," the superstar added. "Pat, I love the way you've always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease."

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXSramam6Ses7p6wqikaKhfrLWiwIydoJ1loJbBbr%2FAo5ikZZSkeqOxxaipnmWnnbKmuIyonWaen6fBtrrE