The Rollercoaster Life of Pat Sajak: Behind the Scenes of 'Wheel of Fortune' and Beyond

Pat Sajak, the iconic TV game show host, has had a remarkable journey filled with highs and lows while steering the Wheel of Fortune ship for over four decades. Sajak took over the reins from Chuck Woolery in 1981 and quickly became a household name. In a recent tweet commemorating his 40th anniversary as host, Sajak reflected on the era he began his tenure, which included popular shows like Dallas, Three's Company, The Jeffersons, and The Dukes of Hazzard, and a new president in Ronald Reagan. The top spot on the charts was held by Olivia Newton-John's hit single 'Physical.'

After beginning his career on the show, Sajak was joined by cohost Vanna White a year later. Together, they have been entertaining viewers for over four decades. White referred to their relationship as being like siblings after 37 years, stating that they have been together longer than anyone else, even in terms of spouses and children. She also mentioned that she can tell what kind of mood Sajak is in just by looking at him. In 1990 and 1995, Sajak and his wife Lesly Brown welcomed their son Patrick and daughter Maggie. However, five years after taking on his iconic role, Sajak split from his ex-wife Sherrill James.

The Wheel of Fortune host, Pat Sajak, has received criticism from fans for his actions on the show, despite his efforts to fulfill contestants' dreams with luxurious prizes and extravagant trips. In a recent episode aired on April 13, 2022, Sajak made a joke about contestant White, which sparked a backlash on social media. As the winner of the episode was an opera singer, Sajak concluded the show by asking White if she was an opera buff. When she replied that she enjoyed opera but was not necessarily an expert, Sajak quipped, "Have you ever watched opera in the buff? I'm just curious," which many fans found inappropriate.

Following the episode, a tweet from a fan sparked controversy, suggesting they had witnessed a #metoo moment on @WheelofFortune. However, another user offered a defense of Sajak, pointing out that people often enjoy media with explicit language and violence, yet are quick to criticize the host's seemingly innocent comment. The user believed that Sajak's comment was simply a play on words, referencing Vanna's statement that she is not an opera buff. White has not publicly addressed the incident. In addition to the backlash, Sajak faced a health scare in November 2019 which resulted in emergency surgery for a blocked intestine. The show's Twitter page confirmed that taping was temporarily cancelled while Sajak recovered, and that Vanna White had taken over hosting duties in his absence.

After experiencing severe pain in his stomach, Pat Sajak underwent surgery within two and a half hours and later revealed his near-fatal illness. In an interview with Good Morning America, Sajak expressed that he felt great and had been back in the studio for several weeks, even spinning the wheel without any issues. He happily announced that he was as good as new and still had his wits about him, ensuring that he would continue to sell vowels for a long time.

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Pat Sajak’s Ups and Downs Through the Years: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Mishaps, Health Scares and More

Playing the game of life. Pat Sajak’s journey to becoming the longest-running TV game show host has had its ups and downs over the years.

After taking over for original Wheel of Fortune host Chuck Woolery in 1981, the TV personality became a mainstay on the small screen. As he celebrated his 40th anniversary as host in December 2021, he reflected on the cultural landscape of the time, noting that top shows included Dallas, Three's Company, The Jeffersons, and The Dukes of Hazzard, while Ronald Reagan had just begun his first year as president and Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" sat atop the charts. One year into his tenure, he was joined by cohost Vanna White, and the two have formed a close bond over their 40-plus years on the show. "We're like a brother and sister after 37 years," White said in an exclusive interview with We in December 2019. "I think the two of us have been together longer than anyone else, as far as having spouses or children or whatever. We have been together a long time. ... I can just look at him and tell what kind of a mood he's in."

After being in his now-famous role for five years, Sajak ended his marriage with Sherrill James and later married Lesly Brown. Together, they welcomed their son Patrick in 1990 and daughter Maggie in 1995. Despite Sajak's efforts to fulfill contestants' dreams with luxurious prizes and trips, his actions as the host have occasionally drawn criticism from Wheel of Fortune fans. After an episode aired on April 13, 2022, fans took to social media to call out Sajak for making a joke about White. As the episode's winner was an opera singer, Sajak wrapped up the show by asking White if she was an opera buff, to which she replied, "Yes, I'm not a buff, but I like opera."

Sajak teased her response by asking, "Have you ever watched opera in the buff?" prompting laughter from the audience.

After the show, one viewer shared on Twitter, "Did anyone else just witness a #metoo moment on @WheelofFortune?" However, another user came to Sajak's defense, stating, "People enjoy watching TV shows and comedies with explicit language and violence, yet they criticize Pat Sajak for his harmless jokes. I believe his comment was simply a playful response to Vanna's statement and not meant to be inappropriate." White has not addressed the incident publicly.

After facing online criticism, Sajak also had a major health scare in November 2019 when he had to undergo emergency surgery for a blocked intestine. The show's Twitter page announced the cancellation of their taping on Thursday, stating that Sajak was undergoing successful surgery to correct the issue. Fortunately, Sajak recovered quickly and was back to work soon. He even shared the details of his near-fatal illness during an interview with Good Morning America a month later, revealing that he went into surgery just two and a half hours after experiencing excruciating pain in his stomach. Despite the scary experience, Sajak felt great and had been back in the studio doing shows. He even joked that he was still capable of selling vowels for a long time to come.

Scroll below for a timeline of Sajak’s ups and down through the years:

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1981

Sajak began hosting Wheel of Fortune in 1981. His longtime cohost White took over for former cohost Stafford in 1982 following her exit from the series.

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1986

After tying the knot in 1979, the Celebrity Wheel of Fortune host and James called it quits.

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1989

Sajak married Brown in 1989. One year later, they welcomed their son Patrick, followed by their daughter, Maggie, in 1995.

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November 2019

White took on hosting duties for a brief period when the regular host had to undergo emergency surgery. Although initially nervous and hesitant, she stepped up to the challenge and filled in admirably, leveraging her considerable experience with the show. Despite the fun and excitement of the experience, she was ultimately relieved when the regular host returned, as she found hosting to be outside of her comfort zone. Nonetheless, she learned that she was capable of rising to the occasion when necessary.

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December 2019

During an interview with GMA, Sajak revealed his life-threatening health scare from the previous month. He described being in excruciating pain and unable to do anything but lie in a fetal position on his bed. Despite trying various pain medications, nothing provided relief until he was given an unknown medication that caused him to see beautiful pastels and lovely faces, distracting him from the pain.

"In the distance, I could make out the murmurs of my wife and daughter conversing. Although they were right beside me, it sounded as if they were a mile away. The thought crossed my mind that this could be death, a peaceful detachment from the world. Listening to their voices, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for them, knowing their lives would never be the same again. It wasn't my own mortality that troubled me, but the aftermath my loved ones would have to face. But as it turned out, it was just the effects of being high."

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April 2021

While on an episode of Wheel of Fortune, the TV star accidentally gave away the answer to a puzzle. Looking at the board, which displayed "_ _ _ T E _ R A N _ L _," Sajak made a comment saying, "Yikes! Well, I'd rather be standing here than there, quite frankly." The answer to the puzzle turned out to be "quite frankly," but unfortunately, the contestant was unable to solve it before time ran out.

"I immediately realized my mistake after uttering those words," Sajak shared in a post-episode video. "I wonder how many viewers picked up on it. The puzzle had only a few letters displayed, and I unintentionally gave away the answer by saying, 'Honestly, I'd rather be here than there.' However, it's a testament to the contestants' focus that they didn't get distracted by my slip-up."

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March 2022

The contestant shared a personal anecdote about how paramedics saved his toe after a childhood bike accident during the introduction. Pat Sajak's response, "That may have been the most pointless story ever told. And you told it, Scott. Congratulations to you," received backlash from fans. A Twitter user expressed sympathy for the contestant and criticized Sajak for being mean on national television.

Shortly after showing empathy towards contestants struggling to solve a puzzle, the Days of Our Lives star received backlash from online critics. In a tweet posted earlier that month, he expressed his disappointment in seeing kind-hearted participants being ridiculed for making mistakes during the game show.

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April 2022

Fans criticized the host for making an inappropriate and insensitive remark directed at White. After a contestant won the opera singing competition, Sajak turned to his cohost and asked if she was a fan of opera. She replied affirmatively, stating that she wasn't an expert but enjoyed the art form. The host then made a lewd comment, asking if she had ever watched opera while naked. Despite the public backlash, White did not address the joke publicly.

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September 2022

Sajak hinted that his stint on Wheel of Fortune may be ending soon. Reflecting on the passage of time, he remarked, "Years fly by. We're getting closer to the end. It's been quite a while. We won't be doing this for another 40 years. The end is in sight." Despite this, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have been a part of viewers' lives for so long, stating, "It's an honor to have been welcomed into people's homes for all these years. We're thrilled and proud."

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January 2023

In January 2023, the producer of Wheel of Fortune engaged in a dispute with a contestant who failed to guess the puzzle in the Fun & Games category, "Taking a quick jog." Sajak commented on the contestant's unsuccessful attempt, stating, "Wow, that was so close. You just didn't have the letters." The contestant replied with a quip, saying, "I just don't consider jogging fun and games."

Two months later, Sajak received backlash once again when he implored another contestant to "Please, solve the darn puzzle!" despite only two letters remaining. Despite the contestant correctly guessing the answer, Sajak expressed his frustration, stating, "It's a horrible moment when you know that everyone in America knows what this is, why don't I? But you got it."

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June 2023

Sajak announced his plans to retire from Wheel of Fortune after more than 40 years.

"I have made the decision that our upcoming 41st season, starting in September, will mark the end of my time here," he announced on Twitter. "It has been an incredible journey, and I look forward to sharing more details in the near future. Thank you all for your support."