Pat Sajak Retiring? Host Reveals Whether or Not He Will Leave 'Wheel of Fortune'
Pat Sajak finally gave a straight answer about whether or not he would leave "Wheel of Fortune" soon.
Sajak, who is now 75 years old, has been serving the industry for decades since 1968. Among the programs he worked on, "Wheel of Fortune" remains the longest-running show he currently holds after scoring the role in 1981.
As he continues to lead the show despite his age, he has been sparking talks about whether or not he would leave his post soon.
After a long wait, he finally gave a cryptic answer about being the gamemaster for decades.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Sajak said "the end is near" for him.
"Years go by fast. We're getting near the end. It's been a long [time]. We're not going to do this for another 40 years. It's an honor to have been in people's living rooms for that long. People were out there welcoming us. We're happy and proud," the host said.
Although he already said he would leave his role sooner or later, he assured the viewers that "Wheel of Fortune" itself would not die.
But for now, he and Vanna White will continue as the show's host for its "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" season 3.
Pat Sajak's Retirement Buzzes
Sajak's comments came months after buzzes about his retirement emerged.
Initially, The Globe insisted that Sajak was planning to retire as his mind "was already slipping." He also wanted to do it after fans slammed him for mocking a contestant's speech impediment.
However, they had since been debunked as he renewed his contract with the show in 2018 alongside the late host Alex Trebek for "Jeopardy!" and Vanna White.
His age might soon contribute to his retirement, but the host remains as healthy as ever.
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For what it's worth, he faced a health scare when he was required to undergo emergency surgery because of the pain he felt in his stomach.
"You couldn't do anything. I was in [a] fetal position, lying on the bed," he said. "They try to give you various drugs for the pain. And none of it -- none -- was working. And then they gave me something, I couldn't even tell you the name of it, but suddenly, I wasn't thinking about the pain.
He recovered from it, as well, and returned to the stage to lead "Wheel of Fortune."