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Pat Sajak Biography

Birth Name:Patrick Leonard Sajdak

Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession Actor, Producer

Fast Facts

Compete on the game show "Jeopardy" in support of the Vietnamese Veterans of America, earning $55,300
Sajak entered the world of radio as a teenager after winning a contest on Chicago's WLS radio and went on to work as a late night newsman for local radio station WEDC while in college
Quote: "[on becoming the host of "Wheel of Fortune"] "I never envisioned myself as a game show host, but I took the job thinking it had a year or two letf in it ․․․ Instead, the show got a second wind and went back to number one․ Then, the nighttime, syndicated version was launched in 1983, and the rest, as they say, is history․""
Appeared as a regular substitute for Regis Philbin on "Live with Regis and Kelly․"
Made a cameo appearance on the cartoon show "Rugrats" as himself
Competed with Vanna White on an episode of "Wheel of Fortune" hosted by Alex Trabek on April Fool's Day 1997

Awards

1985Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Host in a Game Show: nominated
1986Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
1987Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
1989Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
1993Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: winner
1997Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: winner
1997OFTA Television Award-Best Host of a Game Show: nominated
1998Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: winner
1998OFTA Television Award-Best Host of a Game Show: nominated
1999Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
1999OFTA Television Award-Best Host of a Game Show: nominated
2000Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2002Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2003Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2003OFTA Television Award-Best Host of a Game Show: nominated
2007Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2008Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2010Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2015Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2017Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2018Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2019Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2020Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2021Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2022Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2022Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game Show Host: nominated
2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Game Show: nominated
2024OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Individual Performance in A Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program: nominated
2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Game Show: winner