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Pat Sajak Steps Out for Rare Appearance With Wife Lesly Brown Ahead of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Exit

Couples

Updated on: Jun 7, 2024 2:00 pm·

By Samantha Agate

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Days ahead of his Wheel of Fortune retirement, Pat Sajak stepped out for a rare public appearance with his wife, Lesly Brown, on Monday, June 4. It marked their first photographed outing together in seven years.

Lately, emotions have been running high for the TV icon, who has been a part of the successful game show for 41 seasons.

“Well, the time has come to say goodbye,” Pat, 77, said in a clip ahead of his final episode airing on Friday, June 7. “I have a few thanks and acknowledgements before I go, and I want to start with all of you watching out there. It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade.”

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Pat Sajak Steps Out With Wife Ahead of Wheel of Fortune Exit

Catching Up With Friends

Pat and Leslie, 59, dined with their pals at Ivy at the Shore in Santa Monica. As his Wheel of Fortune tenure nears its end, a friend close to the star revealed his retirement plans.

“As much as he has thoroughly enjoyed his years on the show, he is ready to step back and relax,” the insider told Closer.

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Ready for Retirement

Additionally, the game show legend is hoping to spend more time with Lesly and their kids, Patrick and Maggie Sajak, after leaving the show.

“Pat will spend his time enjoying his family and his hobbies,” the source shared. “He loves to travel, to play the occasional game of golf with friends, and do charity work with organizations close to his heart like the USO and PETA.”

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A Bond Meant to Last

The couple, who got married in 1989, have an incredible bond.

“It is frightening,” Pat told People after their nuptials. “We are already doing the thing where you start a sentence, and the other person finishes it for you.”

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Keeping It Casual

For the outing, Pat went for a more casual look than Wheel of Fortune fans are used to seeing him sport on the show. He paired a black sweater with jeans and dark tinted sunglasses.

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End of an Era

He appeared to be in good spirits as he greeted all of his friends with hugs, even though his life is about to change tremendously as he prepares to take his final bow.

“And I’ve always felt like the privilege came with the responsibility to keep this daily half hour a safe place for family fun,” Pat told Wheel of Fortune fans in a goodbye message. “No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing I hope, just a game. But gradually it became more than that. A place where kids learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families came together along with friends and neighbors, and entire generations.”