Photo: Ricky Middlesworth/ABC via Getty
Pat Sajakjust reached a major career milestone on Tuesday.
The 75-year-old game show host marked his 40th-anniversary hostingWheel of Fortuneon Twitter and noted inhis tweethow much has changed since he began the gig in the 1980s.
Sajak’s daughter, Maggie, also congratulated him on his accomplishment.
“Happy 40th Wheel-iversary to this guy!” the 26-year-oldtweeted, sharing a throwback of her father hosting the series. “On this day in 1981, @patsajak hosted his very first episode of @WheelofFortune… and the rest is history!”
Sajak joinedWheel of Fortunein 1981 as original host Chuck Woolery’s replacement. But he briefly left in 1989 to host his short-lived CBS late-night show, resulting in former NFL star Rolf Benirschke taking over. Later Bob Goen replaced Benirschke.
Sajak also stepped away briefly in 2019 toundergo surgeryfor a blocked intestine, leadingVanna Whiteto temporarily step in as emcee.
For his hosting on the show, Sajak has won and been nominated for multiple DaytimeEmmy Awards. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the DaytimeEmmy Awardsin 2011.
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Sajak said he and White “talked about” when they’d likely depart the series. “We’ll probably walk off in the sunset at the same time,” he toldAccess Hollywoodlast January. “[But] not in this calendar year.”
Speaking toEntertainment Tonightin September, Sajak and White, 64, revealedwhen they’d likely throw in the towel.
“We’re certainly closer to the end than the beginning,” Sajak said. “I’d like to leave before people tune in and look at me and say, ‘Ooh, what happened to him?’ I wouldn’t bet on seeing us in, like, 10 years, I would say.”
source: people.com
