Pat Sajak Transitions to Acting After Leaving Wheel of Fortune

HONOLULU, Hawaii — Pat Sajak, renowned host of Wheel of Fortune for 41 years, is bidding farewell to the game show world and stepping into the spotlight in a new theatrical role.

The 78-year-old Sajak will star in a revival of the 1962 play Prescription: Murder, widely recognized for its influence on the iconic detective series Columbo. The production is scheduled to run at a community theater in Hawaii from July 31 to August 10.

Sajak will portray Dr. Roy Flemming, a clever psychiatrist who devises a perfect alibi after committing murder. His longtime friend Joe Moore will take on the role of Lt. Columbo, the investigator on the case. A synopsis provided by the theater highlights the intriguing premise of the play.

While Sajak is best known for his game show hosting, he has a background in acting, having made cameo appearances on shows such as The A-Team and The King of Queens. He has also collaborated with Moore in various theatrical productions throughout the years at the Hawaii Theatre.

Prescription: Murder marks Sajak’s first significant project since he concluded his long tenure on Wheel of Fortune. In an interview with a Hawaii news station earlier in 2023, Sajak expressed realistic expectations for his post-game show career. “I’m realistic enough to know the people aren’t gonna be banging my door down,” he said. Still, he remains open to new opportunities.

On a light note, Sajak joked about his newfound free time, saying, “I suspect most of my time will be whittling on the front porch. But I don’t know how to whittle and I don’t have a front porch. So that’ll be a challenge.”

Although Sajak is focusing on theater, he hasn’t entirely left the Wheel of Fortune franchise. He is set to host season five of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which premieres April 30 on ABC.