• In 1986, Sajak and his Wheel of Fortune co-star Vanna White portrayed themselves on an episode of the NBC sitcom 227. In the fourth episode of season three of Comedy Central 's Brickleberry, ' That Brother's My Father ', Pat Sajak gets kidnapped and becomes a hostage to the wheel of fortune.
• Sajak got his start as a weatherman at WSM-TV Nashville before moving to KNBC Los Angeles where he got the exposure that landed him a spot on Wheel of Fortune (1975). Was a disc jockey on the armed forces radio while he served in Vietnam.
• Dec 14, 2019 Not only have they shared a set for over 30 years on Wheel of Fortune, but Vanna White and Pat Sajak have an incredible bond off-screen as well. When asked how she would describe her friendship.
• Jan 16, 2021 Among them are Wheel of Fortune hosts, Pat Sajak and Vanna White. The duo has hosted the game show since 1981 (via History) and been through ups and downs on the show. White had to fill in for.

A pair of game show legends are paying their respects to another. Pat Sajak and Vanna White are speaking out about Alex Trebek and how good he was as a person, both personally and professionally.

Celebrity couples are fascinating. They're often either full of drama or madly in love — there's no in-between. From Cardi B and Offset to Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, they frequently turn their love into trending topics. Then there are celebrity pairings who you might think are romantically involved, but aren't actually. Among them are Wheel of Fortune hosts, Pat Sajak and Vanna White.

The duo has hosted the game show since 1981 (via History) and been through ups and downs on the show. White had to fill in for Sajak for the first time ever when he had to have emergency surgery for a blocked intestine in December 2019. At the time, White said she was 'excited' and 'nervous' about the experience, per CNN.

Sajak and White's 40-year partnership has lasted longer than many celebrity marriages, and with them having spent so much time together throughout the years, many have wondered why they've never dated.

Pat Sajak and Vanna White are more like family

With Pat Sajak and Vanna White possessing undeniable chemistry on screen, it would be easy for viewers to mistake them for a couple. The truth is, both have been married twice, but never to each other. The reason? They see each other as friends and family, not lovers.

'People see the chemistry between Pat and me,' White told Closer Weekly in 2019. 'We are like brother and sister, and I think that is what makes it work.' Sajak added that their friendship is like 'lightning in a bottle,' and they're so friendly that White said they've 'never had one argument.'

Their unwavering commitment to each other is what has made Wheel of Fortune so popular — so much so that Sajak said that he will only work with White until the show ends. 'My goal is to leave before people turn on the TV and go, 'What the hell happened to him?' Sajak joked on stage at Paley Center for Media in 2017 via Entertainment Weekly. 'I can't imagine being there with someone else.'

Pat Sajak and Vanna White have families and different partners

Besides treating each other like family, Pat Sajak and Vanna White are also in relationships with other people.

According to People, Sajak was first married to Sherill Sajak in 1979, but they divorced after seven years. While 'fresh [off that] divorce,' he met aspiring actress Lesly Brown at a sports bar in 1998, according to Closer Weekly. The two got married in 1989 and went on to have two children together — son Patrick Leonard Michael James Sajdak Jr. in 1990 and daughter Maggie Marie Sajak in 1995, via Oprah Magazine.

White, on the other hand, was first engaged to Young and the Restless actor John Gibson, who was tragically killed in a plane crash in 1986, per People. White has said his death was 'devastating,' but she was grateful for Wheel of Fortune fans for helping her overcome her grief. 'I heard from so many people who had shared the same experience of losing someone instantly in an accident, and that really helped me,' she said.

In 1990, White married restaurateur George Santo Pietro, but they filed for divorce in 2002. Since then, White has been in a few relationships and has been dating contractor John Donaldson since 2012.

On Nov. 8, 2020, Alex Trebek passed away at the age of 80. The devastating news sent shockwaves across America. The longtime Jeopardy! host's death was announced on Twitter with the game show's official account tweeting, 'Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex.'

Vanna White Pat Sajak Relationship

As even casual fans of the game show likely know, Trebek had been open about his battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He first announced his diagnosis in March 2019, explaining his desire to be open with fans about what he was going through. 'I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease,' Trebek said at the time. While he seemingly fought incredibly hard following his 2019 announcement, the beloved figure is sadly no longer with us.

Vanna White

From Seth Meyers to Viola Davis, countless celebrities have spoken out about Trebek's legacy and the impact he had on living rooms across America. Now, two more TV game show icons have paid tribute to the host in the wake of the loss: Pat Sajak and Vanna White. Scroll down to find out what they had to say about Alex Trebek's passing.

Pat Sajak and Vanna White wrote touching tribues, noting the 'tremendous loss'

So what did Pat Sajak and Vanna White have to say about the tragic passing of Alex Trebek? According to Page Six, the Wheel of Fortune host took to Twitter on Nov. 8, 2020, to share his feelings. 'Alex Trebek's courage, grace and strength inspired millions and awed those of us who knew him,' Sajak penned. 'A tremendous loss for his family, friends, co-workers and countless viewers. I was honored to be a friend and a part of his professional family for all these years. A very sad day.' Per Page Six, Sajak and Alex Trebek had hosted their respective game shows since the '80s.

Pat And Vanna Affair

Wheel of Fortune's Vanna White was also quick to mourn the loss of her peer and friend. She took to Instagram in her own heartfelt post on Nov. 8, 2020. 'I will cherish the many memories I have shared with Alex Trebek that date back well before either of our careers took off,' she wrote. 'I will always be in awe of the way he faced the battle he fought so valiantly, and I'm devastated to lose my longtime friend. My heart is with his family, friends, co-workers and fans. There will never be another Alex Trebek and he will truly be missed.'

In the time since the painful loss, some fans have speculated about Alex's Trebek's possible successor, though most are simply mourning the passing of an American treasure.