Pat Sajak has finally secured an Emmy Award for his role as host on Wheel of Fortune after 26 years.
The 77-year-old TV personality retired from hosting duties in June 2024 after completing his final season, having replaced Chuck Woolery in 1981.
He took home the award for outstanding host of a game show at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday, September 7.
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Also nominated in the category were Celebrity Family Feud ‘s Steve Harvey , Jeopardy! ‘s Ken Jennings , Password ‘s Keke Palmer , and Weakest Link ‘s Jane Lynch .
Sajak has been previously nominated 23 times and has won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host in 1993, 1997, and 1998. In 2023, that category moved from the Daytime Emmys to the Primetime Emmys.
Sajak was also previously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2011 Daytime Emmy Awards, alongside Jeopardy! ‘s Alex Trebek .
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Sajak’s co-host Vanna White joined him in 1982, just one year after he began hosting duties. Sajak announced his retirement in June 2023, but White will remain on the show at least through the 2025-2026 season per her contract.
At the time of his announcement, Sajak wrote via X (formerly Twitter), “Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)”
Ryan Seacrest was confirmed as his replacement just weeks after his announcement.
“It’s been a little bit wistful and all that, but I’m enjoying it and taking it all in and reflecting on the great run,” Sajak previously said of hosting the show. “Somewhere along the line, we became more than a popular show. We became part of the popular culture. And more importantly, we became part of people’s lives. And, that’s been awfully gratifying.”
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When he hosted his final episode on June 7, Sajak gave a touching speech where he expressed his gratitude to his loyal viewers, his cast and crew, and his family members.
“Thank you for allowing me into your lives, every time we taped a show I met three new people from all parts of this wonderful country and the world who were kind and considerate, who rooted for each other, who took great pride in talking about their family, their hometown, their friends, their schools, their jobs, even their pets,” he said. “In the end, they were the real stars of the show. I genuinely like these people and I’ll miss the chance to meet more of them.”
He also thanked White, referring to her as his “professional other half.”
“We’ve seen a lot of changes in each other’s lives over the years, but we’ve always been there for each other,” he said. “While I’ll very much miss working with her, I take solace in the fact that we live about five miles apart so we’ll see plenty of each other. But I will miss our nightly closes and her laughter and her good nature.”
Despite Sajak officially retiring from Wheel of Fortune , viewers can still expect to see him host the forthcoming season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune , which premieres on October 7.
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