After hosting the iconic game show Wheel of Fortune for 41 years, 77-year-old Pat Sajak is set to take a bow in his final episode, which will air on June 7. His last appearance was taped last Friday, bringing the end of an era to fans of the show who have gotten used to him.
Last June, Pat Sajak announced his retirement via a statement which reads, “Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!).”
Vanna White reacts to her longtime co-host’s exit
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Working alongside Pat for years was Vanna White, who joined the show in 1982 as well. She was touched by Pat’s decision to leave the show and expressed her thoughts via social media. “When we started @WheelofFortune who could have imagined we’d still be at it 41 seasons later? I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years with one more to come. Cheers to you, @patsajak!” she wrote.
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Shortly after the saddening announcement of Pat leaving, it was revealed that TV personality and famous producer Ryan Seacrest would be taking over. “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,” Ryan, 48, wrote.
After taking over from Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford, who hosted since the game show’s premiere in 1975, Pat remained loyal to the production. This earned him the title of the longest-running host of any game show, just after The Price Is Right’s Bob Barker, who hosted for 35 years before retiring in 2007.
He has also received twenty-three Daytime Emmy Award nominations, winning three of them, plus a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2011 Daytime Emmy Awards. Even Ryan admitted he had big shoes to fill. “I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” the soon-to-be co-host had said.