Move Over ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ Pat Sajak’s Next Big Venture Has Us Really Excited
Pat Sajak is hitting the theater! Sajak has been a television staple since he began hosting Wheel of Fortune in 1981. His humor and genuine charm made him easy to enjoy as a host, so it was disappointing when he decided to retire from the long-running gig. Sure, it was understandable as he’d been hosting the game show for over four decades, but it felt bittersweet seeing him pass the torch. Sajak hasn’t completely left the public eye, and his new venture is one that, while different from what we’re used to seeing, is very exciting.
Shortly after leaving Wheel of Fortune, he announced that he’d be joining Joe Moore for a stage production, Prescription Murder, which is adapted from Columbo. It’s an exciting move for Sajak, as it keeps him booked and busy and allows him to stretch his muscles in other art forms. And as it turns out, it’s not the first time he’s performed in a stage production.
What is ‘Prescription Murder’ About?
Prescription Murder is described as being the inspiration for the television series Columbo. It tells the story of a psychiatrist (Sajak) and his mistress (Therese Olival) who devise a plan to murder his wife (Amy K. Sullivan). However, the entire scheme relies on creating the perfect alibi. Moore plays Lt. Columbo, who is assigned to the case and goes head-to-head with the psychiatrist in a cat-and-mouse-esque battle.
It’s certainly a change of pace from what we’re used to seeing Sajak do, but it’s not the first time he’s performed. In fact, he and Moore have had a handful of collaborations over the years at the Hawaii Theatre Center.
Including Prescription Murder, Sajak and Moore have teamed up on nine productions together. These include Moore’s original play, Prophecy and Honor, a revival of The Odd Couple, The Honeymooners, The Boys in Autumn, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, Dial M for Murder, and in 2023, The Sunshine Boys. So Sajak is certainly no stranger to the stage.
All net proceeds from the show will support the Hawaii Theatre, helping keep the theater company in business. Gregory D. Dunn, President and CEO of Hawaii Theatre Center, told People that Sajak brings tremendous value to the production.
“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, he is really a talented actor that brings an immense amount of craft to the stage,” he said. “Our audiences every year are delighted when they’re able to enjoy his performances on stage.”
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Pat Sajak’s Theater Career Is an Exciting New Chapter
There’s a lot of love for Sajak. He and Vanna White helped make Wheel of Fortune the phenomenon it is today, so seeing him depart was the end of an era. But his theater career is the perfect complement to his hosting career.
Both require a certain level of personality and genuineness that Sajak naturally has, which makes this move to theater the perfect fit. It also allows Sajak to deviate from his usual persona of a bubbly game show host, as his role in the production is much darker. It’s a bold move, but one that will show off his acting chops and allow audiences to see him in a whole new light.
It’s nice to know that Sajak isn’t fully stepping out of the spotlight and is instead continuing his career on the stage. And it’ll be refreshing to see him take off the hosting cap and stretch his acting muscles. He’s always welcome back to spin the wheel again, but this is a great new path for him that we’re excited to see. Here’s to many more Sajak-starring stage productions!
