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Pat Sajak theater boss says retired Wheel of Fortune host is ‘great performer’ as Hawaii residents rush to see him act
Plus, all about Pat's tearful sign-off as Wheel of Fortune host
PAT Sajak is coming out of retirement to ham it up in a stage play in Hawaii, and its theater manager is telling all about his surprising next move.
Pat's new gig at the Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu was announced the very week of his last episode of Wheel of Fortune.
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Pat, 77, quickly landed the lead role in a community theater production called Prescription: Murder.
He co-stars with his longtime friend Joe Moore, a local KHON newscaster.
The play won't be curtains up immediately but will instead take place next summer from July 25 to August 10, 2025.
That said, tickets are already available for the show even a year out, and it's not hard to imagine why.
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This marks the former game show host's first gig since retiring from Wheel of Fortune on Friday, June 7.
Pat's last day was an emotional moment for the masses, and he previously hinted he'd be enjoying retirement.
So fans were stunned to discover he'd be stepping back into the spotlight - even more surprisingly, as a stage actor.
But as it turns out, Pat loves acting in Hawaii, and the locals love him right back.
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'THEY LOVE HIM'
“Pat has a good relationship with [co-star] Joe Moore; their friendship spans since the military days," Hawaii Theatre Manager Justin Jenks exclusively told The U.S. Sun.
“Last year, he did a production here as well," he explained.
Pat Sajak admits Wheel of Fortune contestants were ‘robbed’ on his final episode but makes up for it with surprise prize
"Pat and Joe put on a performance here, and the proceeds are donated to the theater. So that’s one of the good things."
Pat has a home in Hawaii alongside his $5.5 million mansion in Los Angeles and summers there.
His previous play was The Sunshine Boys, and, as is the case with next summer's show, the proceeds will go to charity.
“Pat is very in tune with the community aspect and likes to donate his time here," Justin continued.
Wheel of Fortune Host Timeline
Although Pat and Vanna have been a staple on the game show for decades, there have been other hosts
Chuck Woolery was the host from 1975 to 1981
He co-hosted alongside Susan Stafford (1975 to 1982)
Vanna White then stepped in as hostess in 1982 and has been ever since
After a contract and salary dispute, the show got rid of Chuck and brought in Pat in 1982
Pat hosted with Susan for one season
He then left the game show in 1989 to host a late-night talk show for CBS
For five months, NFL player Rolf Benirschke took his place
In July 1989, Bob Goen hosted the show on CBS
He hosted for a year and a half until the show was canceled in 1991
The show was then moved to ABC with Pat and Vanna hosting for the foreseeable future
In 2023, Pat announced his retirement and Ryan Seacrest as quickly named as his replacement
"All of the proceeds here are a donation to the theater.
“So we always give him a slated slot for an amount of weeks here.”
“I believe the year before that they did that as well," Justin shared.
“We have an upcoming commercial for that and yes, people are excited for it."
"We give the production two weeks, and they perform multiple times throughout those two weeks,” Justin said.
Justin said that Pat is a smash hit with the residents, who can even get to meet him after his performances.
“They love him; they sell a VIP experience where you take pictures with Pat. It’s always a good time."
“He’s very impressionable with the community here. When I met him, it was great. Overall, he’s a good guy," he said.
“He’s a really stand-up guy. He’s very nice, very kind."
Justin admitted he was caught off guard by Pat's acting skills when he saw him perform in a production of Sunshine Boys in June 2023.
“He’s a great performer."
"To be honest, I didn't know he could act that well until I saw him live."
The 2025 show is fully scripted, and last year’s show had a “little comedic aspect to it," he added.
Justin also said that there was a buzz in the area about Pat leaving Wheel before he announced his retirement later that month in 2023.
“Last year, there was a rumor that he was not going to back to Wheel of Fortune.
“So the turnout was pretty good.
“It was a span of 8 or 9 different performances.”
Pat also starred alongside Joe in many other shows at the theater, including in The Odd Couple, The Honeymooners, The Boys in Autumn, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, and Dial M for Murder.
ALL ABOUT PAT'S NEXT ACT
In Prescription Murder, Pat will play a psychiatrist who comes up with a murder plot while Joe plays the lead detective.
The mystery-themed play will be on the Hawaii Theatre Center's main stage.
Its plot was the inspiration for the pilot for the classic TV show Columbo.
$75 VIP tickets include the best seats, a meet and greet with a personal photo opportunity with the stars, and an autographed playbill.
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Pat also spoke about his surprising love of acting in a recent video interview.
"As you get older, there's the work of memorizing a play, and it's a good measurement of how you're doing," he said.
"And, of course, spending time in Hawaii is great."
Pat holds Hawaii close to his heart and has had a home there for decades.
He tearfully told viewers to donate during the deadly 2023 wildfires in a rare, personal social media video.
PAT'S FAREWELL MESSAGE
After 43 years, 8000 episodes, and more ridiculous answers than anyone could count, Pat's final episode aired on June 7, 2024.
At the end of the episode, he held back tears as he delivered one final message to the Wheel community.
"Well, the time has come to say goodbye," he said in the video.
"I have a few thanks and acknowledgments before I go, and I want to start with all 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," he said, tearing up.
"And I've always felt that privilege came with the responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun."
Pat thanked viewers for allowing him into their lives.
He ended by thanking the crew and longtime letter-turning icon Vanna White, who swept in for a tearful hug.
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He's set to be replaced by Ryan Seacrest come fall 2024.
Vanna will stay on with Ryan for at least two years, starting with Season 42.
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