Renowned host of the syndicated game show “Wheel of Fortune” Pat Sajak has announced his retirement next year after more than 40 years, he announced in a tweet Monday night.
“Well, the time has come. I have decided that our 41st season, which starts in September, will be our last,” Sajak said. “It’s been a wonderful journey, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Thank you all so much.”
Sajak, 76, took the helm of “Wheel” in 1981 along with co-host Vanna White. The show is a mainstay of primetime programming on local television channels across the country, often accompanied by the “Jeopardy!”
“Wheel,” which was created by media mogul Merv Griffin in 1975, revolves around contestants trying to solve Hangman-style word puzzles. The show has become part of the American cultural lexicon, spawning merchandising and spin-off ties including “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.”
Sajak has won three Daytime Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Game Show Host (1993, 1997, 1998), as well as a lifetime achievement award in 2011, according to the Internet Movie Database, or IMDb.
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