Pat Sajak, 78, Makes Big Career Change Nearly a Year After Retiring from ‘Wheel Of Fortune’

Nearly one year after stepping away from one of television’s most iconic roles, former Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak is surprising fans once again—this time by returning to his first love: the stage.

After an extraordinary 43-year run as host of the beloved game show, Sajak officially bid farewell to audiences on June 7, 2024.

His final episode marked the end of an era, but the 78-year-old television personality is proving that retirement from one spotlight doesn’t mean retreating from all of them. Sajak has announced a dramatic career shift: he’s returning to acting in a live stage production.

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This summer, Sajak will star in Prescription: Murder at the Hawaii Theatre, a suspenseful play that features him alongside longtime friend and KHON-TV Hawaii newscaster Joe Moore.

The production is scheduled for a limited engagement from July 31 to August 10 and promises to be an unforgettable farewell to the duo’s storied onstage partnership.

Longtime friends @JoeMooreKHON2 and @patsajak are here to bring to life the play that inspired the TV show- Columbo (1968)! The show will run July 31st to August 10th, only at the Hawaii Theatre! ️

Get your tickets now at https://t.co/UUk1eIQC4d pic.twitter.com/hXQ4lrDou1

— Hawaii Theatre (@hawaiitheatre) April 27, 2025

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“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,” reads the Hawaii Theatre website.

“Columbo and the doctor engage in a cat and mouse duel of wits culminating in a surprising climax.”

The play is being directed by Rob Duval and will also star Bryce Moore, Therese Olival, Amy K. Sullivan, and Aiko Chinen.

The production brings together a cast of seasoned actors and Hawaii-based talent, but the real draw for many will be seeing Sajak and Moore on stage together one last time.

“This play will likely be our final time on stage together,” Sajak and Moore said in a joint statement, signaling the emotional weight behind the production.

Sajak and Moore’s bond spans decades, tracing all the way back to their time serving together during the Vietnam War. Since then, their friendship has transcended the battlefield and found a home on stage.

Their first collaboration came in 2001 with a local production of The Odd Couple, and their chemistry has been revisited over the years, most recently in 2022’s The Sunshine Boys.

1/2 Finally tonight, the first look at the PSA that will start airing tomorrow for “The Sunshine Boys,” next month at Hawaii Theatre.

This will be the 6th play Pat Sajak and I have done at Hawaii Theatre. pic.twitter.com/eRMn1RwMbN

— Joe Moore (@JoeMooreKHON2) May 10, 2022

Beyond his television fame, Sajak has quietly earned admiration in theater circles for his compelling stage presence. Gregory D. Dunn, President and CEO of Hawaii Theatre Center, had nothing but praise for the veteran entertainer’s talent.

“It’s really exciting as someone [who] has grown up with Wheel of Fortune,” Dunn told People magazine. “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 that brings an immense amount of craft to the stage.”

Hawaii Theatre made this announcement tonight during Pat Sajak’s final episode as host of Wheel of Fortune. pic.twitter.com/i7QTdcEaFk

— Joe Moore (@JoeMooreKHON2) June 8, 2024

Dunn emphasized that Sajak’s return is always eagerly anticipated by local audiences. “Our audiences every year are delighted when they’re able to enjoy his performances on stage,” he said. “We couldn’t be happier to welcome Pat back, and it really is something that we look forward to every couple of years.”

For fans who still remember Sajak’s heartfelt farewell from Wheel of Fortune, this new chapter feels like a full-circle moment—one where the charm and warmth that made him a household name can now shine in a more intimate, theatrical setting.

“It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade,” Sajak said in his June 2024 farewell message.

“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.”

“What an honor to have played even a small part in all that,” he added. “Thank you for allowing me into your lives.”

The Pat Sajak farewell was perfect

pic.twitter.com/SBAfvETbwJ

— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) June 7, 2024

While fans may still miss his familiar face on their screens, there’s a sense of joy in watching Sajak embrace a more personal and passion-driven chapter.

For those lucky enough to be in Hawaii this summer, Prescription: Murder offers a rare and final opportunity to see one of television’s most enduring figures take on a complex and captivating role on stage.

From spinning the wheel to spinning a tale of mystery and suspense, Pat Sajak proves that at 78, he’s far from finished entertaining the world.

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