As Pat Sajak retires from "Wheel of Fortune" after 41 seasons, the longtime host will have more time to spend with his family.
Sajak's last episode will air June 7, which also marks the end of the season for "Wheel of Fortune." He announced back in June 2023 that he would retire at the end of season 41.
"My goal was not to do this job and to keel over on it," Sajak revealed in a behind-the-scenes interview with his daughter Maggie Sajak. "I've always said, you've heard me say this dozens of times, 'I'd rather leave a couple years too early than a couple years too late."
Pat Sajak added that it has been "a great 40 years" but he and his wife Lesly Brown are also looking forward doing "other things in life."
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"I'm looking forward to whatever's ahead," he said, adding that he would be "perfectly happy" continuing with his crossword puzzles.
Pat Sajak started hosting "Wheel of Fortune" in 1981 following a career in broadcasting and news and has since also become a coordinating producer on the long-running TV game show. He also hosted "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune," which launched in 2021.
His daughter Maggie Sajak joined the "Wheel of Fortune" family in 2021 and now serves as the game show's social correspondent.
Get to know Pat Sajak and his family below.
Lesly Brown
Pat Sajak tied the knot with wife Lesly Brown in 1989. The couple have been married for most of Sajak's tenure on "Wheel of Fortune."
In 2019, Brown joined the "Wheel of Fortune" cast, crew and staff to celebrate the game show's 7,000th episode.
"Speaking of contracts, I signed one a long time ago with this beautiful woman -- my wife, Lesly," Pat Sajak said at the time, introducing Brown. "We're about to celebrate anniversary number...."
"Thirty," Brown replied, adding there were "a lot" of "Wheel" episodes filmed during that period.
Brown also made a cameo on "Wheel of Fortune" in April 1997 as the puzzleboard turner when Pat Sajak and fellow game show host Alex Trebek switched places for an April Fool's Day stunt, with Pat Sajak hosting "Jeopardy!" and Trebek hosting "Wheel of Fortune." In the latter episode, Pat Sajak played against "Wheel" co-host Vanna White.
Pat Sajak's daughter fills in as letter turner while Vanna White hosts 'Wheel of Fortune'
Patrick Michael James Sajak
Pat Sajak and Brown welcomed their first child, a son named Patrick, in 1990.
Patrick Sajak and his younger sister Maggie Sajak both re-enacted a "Wheel of Fortune" closer as kids in 2000, with the latter pretending to be co-host Vanna White and Patrick Sajak assuming his dad's hosting role. "Wheel of Fortune" shared a look back at the cute close in 2020.
"So, Patrick, did Daddy give you any advice [on] how to do a close tonight?" a young Maggie Sajak asks her brother in the sweet throwback clip.
"Well, he did say one thing -- don't be funnier than he is," Patrick Sajak quips in response. "How about you, Maggie? Did Vanna give you any advice?"
"Don't be funnier than Daddy is," Maggie Sajak replies.
Turning to the audience, she adds, "Well, he did tell me to say this: Bye bye!"
Pat Sajak talks with daughter on his final week of 'Wheel of Fortune' in 'GMA' exclusive clip
Patrick Sajak is a doctor. In 2021, his father announced in an episode of "Wheel of Fortune" that his son had officially graduated medical school.
"So you know my son, Patrick. You've known him all his life," Pat Sajak said at the time, speaking with White. "Well, he's made it through medical school, and he is now officially Dr. Sajak, and we're all thrilled."
Maggie Sajak expressed excitement for her brother at the time, writing in the caption of an Instagram post, "My big brother officially became a doctor today, and I am the MOST proud. Congrats @patricksajak, MD!!!"
Maggie Sajak
Five years after Pat Sajak and Brown welcomed their first child, they welcomed their second child -- a daughter they named Maggie.
Maggie Sajak graduated from Princeton University and is finishing law school at Columbia University. She made her debut on "Wheel of Fortune" as a 1-year-old, tagging along with her father onto the "Wheel of Fortune" set in Hawaii.
She filled in for Vanna White as the puzzleboard turner in November 2019 when White filled in for Pat Sajak, who had taken some time away to recover from emergency surgery.
Maggie Sajak officially joined the show as its social correspondent in 2021, providing behind-the-scenes content for viewers, including guest interviews and sneak peeks.
Pat Sajak bids farewell to 'Wheel of Fortune': What to know about his family originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
