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Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Wheel of Fortune's Pat Sajak makes huge career change at 78
It's been a year since Pat Sajak retired from hosting the game show Wheel of Fortune after 41 years. Now, he's set to for a major career change as he goes back to acting. Sajak will star in a play at the Hawaii Theater called Prescription: Murder with his long time friend KHON-TV Hawaii newscaster Joe Moore. According to the theater's website, Sajak, 78, plays a psychiatrist named Dr. Roy Flemming, who has 'carried out an ingenious plan to murder his wife, and established a perfect alibi.' Moore, 78, stars alongside him as Lt. Columbo, a disheveled and seemingly bumbling detective who's investigating the crime. The show runs for a limited time from July 31 through Aug. 10, is directed by Rob Duval and also stars Bryce Moore, Therese Olival, Amy K. Sullivan and Aiko Chinen. Sajak and Moore collectively said the new play will 'likely be our final time on stage together.' The duo have appeared in several plays together over the years after first starring in The Odd Couple together in 2001. Sajack and Moore met while they were both serving in the Vietnam war and in 2018, starred together in Dial M for Murder. Gregory D. Dunn, President and CEO of Hawaii Theatre Center has nothing but praise for Sajak's acting ability. 'It's really exciting as someone [who] has grown up with Wheel of Fortune,' he said via People. 'I used to sit and watch the show with my grandmother when we were children. 'To be able to engage with him and recognize that he is the authentic and kind person you see on the show — that's his true personality, and the way he interacts with people and his fellow actors and with the cast and crew,' Dunn explained. 'He is really a talented actor that brings an immense amount of craft to the stage.' 'Our audiences every year are delighted when they're able to enjoy his performances on stage,' he added' 'We couldn't be happier to welcome Pat back, and it really is something that we look forward to every couple of years.' Prescription: Murder is the original Columbo mystery thriller that was the inspiration for the long-running Colombo TV series starring Peter Falk. Sajak ended his run on Wheel of Fortune in June 2004, at the end of the show's 41st season. In his final message, Sajak shared an emotional message to his longtime fans that aired on June 7, 2024. 'It's been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade,' he said. 'And I've always felt that the privilege came with a responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game.' The Chicago native concluded by sharing, 'What an honor to have played even a small part in all that. Thank you for allowing me into your lives.' Wheel of Fortune's beloved letter-turner Vanna White, 68, recently opened up about her relationship with the show's former host. While Sajak and White still host ABC's primetime version of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, she revealed him leaving the flagship show was a 'sad' time for her. 'It was sad for me in a way because [at the time] I didn't know what the future held. It was ending an unbelievable era!' she said at the Hulu Gets Real event (via TV Insider). When asked if they stay in touch, Vanna said, 'I still see him! We're friends. We have dinner! Yeah, he's still in my life.' She added that when they get back together, 'It's like slipping into something very comfortable. I mean that in the best possible way. It's just comfortable.'
New York Post
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Pat Sajak announces his first acting gig since ‘Wheel of Fortune' retirement — and he's headed to paradise
I'd like to solve the puzzle, please. Pat Sajak has officially announced his first acting gig since retiring from 'Wheel of Fortune' after 41 seasons last year – and it will take place in Hawaii. The legendary game show host, 78, is set to star onstage in a production of 'Prescription: Murder' this summer at the Hawaii Theatre Center in Honolulu, per the facility's website. Advertisement 7 Pat Sajak has announced his first acting gig since retiring from 'Wheel of Fortune' last year. ABC via Getty Images 7 Pat Sajak will star opposite his longtime friend Joe Moore in 'Prescription: Murder' this summer. KHON2 News/Youtube The show will run from July 31 through August 10, and it will feature Sajak as the psychiatrist Dr. Roy Flemming opposite KHON-TV Hawaii newscaster Joe Moore's Lt. Columbo. Advertisement 'Moore plays Lt. Columbo, a disheveled and seemingly bumbling detective who's investigating Sajak's brilliant psychiatrist Dr. Roy Flemming, who's carried out an ingenious plan to murder his wife, and established a perfect alibi,' a preview for the play reads. 'Columbo and the doctor engage in a cat and mouse duel of wits culminating in a surprising climax.' Sajak and Moore have appeared together in several plays over the years, including the Hawaii Theatre production of 'The Odd Couple' back in 2001. 7 Pat Sajak and Joe Moore have starred in six plays together over the years. Joe Moore/Facebook Sadly, the pair also announced that 'Prescription: Murder' will 'likely be our final time onstage together.' Advertisement Gregory D. Dunn, the president and CEO of the Hawaii Theatre Center, told People that he was 'very fortunate' to have Sajak and Moore return for one last play together to help 'raise money' for the center. 'They've done six shows together over the years, and over that time, Pat has donated very generously his time and talents to raise money to support the nonprofit venue,' Dunn told the outlet shortly after Sajak's last 'Wheel of Fortune' episode aired in June 2024. 7 Pat Sajak and Joe Moore also announced that this will 'likely be our final time onstage together.' Joe Moore/Facebook Dunn also praised the former game show host and thanked him for returning to the Hawaii Theatre Center once again after 'Wheel of Fortune.' Advertisement 'It's really exciting as someone who has grown up with 'Wheel of Fortune,'' he said. 'I used to sit and watch the show with my grandmother when we were children. 'To be able to engage with him and recognize that he is the authentic and kind person you see on the show – that's his true personality, and the way he interacts with people and his fellow actors and with the cast and crew,' Dunn continued. 'He is really a talented actor who brings an immense amount of craft to the stage. 7 Pat Sajak and his longtime 'Wheel of Fortune' co-host, Vanna White, in 1975. ©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 7 Pat Sajak and Vanna White on the set of ABC's 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.' ABC via Getty Images 'Our audiences every year are delighted when they're able to enjoy his performances on stage,' Dunn concluded. 'We couldn't be happier to welcome Pat back, and it really is something that we look forward to every couple of years.' Sajak announced his retirement from 'Wheel of Fortune' in 2023. His final episode aired on June 7, 2024. Ryan Seacrest, 50, was named Sajak's successor, with his first episode as the show's new host premiering on September 9, 2024. However, he faced backlash for not mentioning Sajak during his first show. Vanna White, who has co-hosted the long-running game show for more than 40 years, remains on 'Wheel of Fortune.' Advertisement 7 Ryan Seacrest, Vanna White and Pat Sajack shortly before Seacrest took over for Sajack after 41 years. Instagram / @ryanseacrest There were rumors that White, 68, might quit the gig over behind-the-scenes problems with Seacrest, but those claims have since been dispelled. Sajak has also returned to host 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' following his retirement from the regular game show.
