Divorced Pat Sajak Refused to Wed until He Met Lesly, 19 Years Younger She Was By His Side When

Pat Sajak and Lesly Brown | Pat Sajak and Lesly Brown | Source: Getty Images | twitter.com/MaggieSajak

Pat Sajak and his wife, Lesly Brown, have been together for 33 years! Despite their significant age difference and Pat's initial reluctance to remarry after his divorce, the couple has successfully navigated their journey together. They have also faced a shared tragedy, with Lesly steadfastly standing by Pat's side during a life-threatening experience.

Pat Sajak is a widely recognized TV personality known for hosting the game show "Wheel of Fortune." While he captivates audiences in front of cameras and live studio audiences, Pat finds solace and joy in the company of his cherished family during his private moments.

Although Pat is currently happily married, he has faced misfortune before. His first marriage to Sherrill Sajak commenced on a promising note, lasting seven years before the couple parted. Their journey began in 1978 when they first crossed paths and exchanged vows a year later. Despite their shared history, Pat and Sherrill did not have children together, ultimately divorcing in 1986.

Pat Sajak on September 12, 2006, in Culver City, California | Source: Getty Images

Pat and Sherrill's story takes an interesting turn regarding their family dynamics. Although they did not have biological children, Pat adopted Sherrill's son from a previous relationship. Following their divorce, Pat overcame his initial reluctance to remarry and started a new chapter in his life.

On the other hand, it is unknown whether Sherrill remarried or expanded her family later on. It is worth noting that Pat's rise to fame as the beloved host of the widely popular game show began during his marriage to Sherrill.

In 1981, five years before his marriage ended, he gained recognition and became a household name in television. Before landing the role as a TV host, the celebrity personality dabbled in numerous forms of media, presenting on radio and television.

Portrait of Pat Sajak in 1989 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1946, Pat has always had an affinity for entertaining. He initially embarked on his career as a disc jockey, showcasing his talents at various radio stations and quickly gaining recognition in the industry. He soon got a job with the US Army as a regular DJ, entertaining the troops.

Pat's talent and experience in the entertainment field paved the way for broader opportunities. He went on to star in "The Pat Sajak Show," a television program that provided him with a platform to showcase his skills as a host and entertainer.

Lesly Brown, Pat Sajak, Margaret Sajak, and Patrick Sajak at an event in 2003 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

How Pat Sajak Moved on after His Divorce

After his divorce from Sherrill, Pat never wanted to walk down the aisle again. True to his word, he remained steadfast in his decision for a considerable period. However, fate had other plans for him, and he fell in love again. Two years after his divorce, Pat was in a California sports bar where he crossed paths with Lesly Brown, a former Playboy model 19 years younger than him.

Neither of them felt inclined to make the first move, leaving their relationship uncertain.

Their first encounter was at a casual gathering arranged by a mutual friend. They did not feel an immediate spark or connection during their initial meeting. While they had a pleasant enough impression of each other, neither considered the other particularly remarkable.

Pat reminisced about his ride home after meeting Lesly, describing it as an ordinary journey without any mention of Lesly's name or romantic contemplations. Their initial encounter had been casual, and Pat didn't give it much thought as he continued his evening.

At that point, their relationship remained strictly platonic. Nevertheless, they found joy in each other's company and gradually developed a deeper connection. Pat and Lesly started spending more time together, and whenever they traveled, they would keep in touch over the phone.

Still, the calls steered clear of the romantic, and Lesly recalled that she would often hang up, saying she had to go on a date. It seemed like Pat didn't mind the friendly relationship.

Their bond continued to deepen, and by 1989, it became evident that their connection had transcended mere friendship. However, neither of them felt inclined to make the first move, leaving their relationship uncertain, suspended between being friends and the potential for something more. Fortunately, a turn of events provided the perfect solution to their predicament.

Before Lesly met Pat, she had appeared on the game show "The Dating Game." The show worked on the premise that a few ladies compete to win the affection of a male contender. By the time Lesly went to Mexico to pick up her winnings — with the dashing guy who had chosen her by her side — Pat could only look on with jealousy.

The TV show host realized how fond he had become of Lesly after seeing her on the arm of another man. Her departure with her TV show date stirred up a sense of jealousy within Pat, leading him to recognize that his feelings for Lesly had transcended mere friendship. Determined to take action, Pat vividly remembered when he decided to make a move and pursue a romantic relationship with Lesly. He recalled:

"Frankly, I was a little annoyed at [seeing her with another man]. There was definitely borderline jealousy. That was good. I knew she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with."

Before the TV show, Pat had no intention of ever marrying again. When Lesly first broached the topic of finding love again, Pat refused the idea, exclaiming, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" Nonetheless, his reticence waned once he realized his longtime friend and trusted confidante might finally be out of his reach.

After Lesly's trip, Pat confided in his co-worker, Dan Miller. Dan was entirely caught off-guard, not expecting his outspokenly single friend to have such a change of heart. But Pat was sure about his feelings by then and decided to propose to Lesly. By Labor Day of the same year, he took the plunge and asked her to be his wife.

Just four months after Pat's heartfelt proposal, accompanied by a stunning three-carat-plus diamond ring, Pat and Lesly stood face-to-face in a beautiful 19th-century Catholic church, prepared to exchange their vows. With Dan by his side as his best man and a magnificent 21-piece orchestra serenading them with the timeless melody of "Greensleeves," Pat took a leap of faith and gave love another chance.

The ceremony was traditional, and Pat recalled how the priest lauded a silent wife who keeps a clean house. Lesly poked fun at the notion afterward, and Pat laughingly remembered, "Lesly swore to keep quiet and clean the toilet every day." The marriage was a great success, and the couple welcomed two children.

Pat Sajak and Lesley Brown Sajak in 2007, in New York | Source: Getty Images

Pat Sajak's Life as a Married Man

Their oldest, Patrick Michael James Sajak, had the opportunity to occasionally appear alongside his father on the iconic game show "Wheel of Fortune" during his childhood. Following her brother's footsteps, their daughter Margaret Sajak also had a few delightful cameos as a child. As she grew older, Margaret took the show seriously, showcasing her talents and carving her path.

"I remember thinking, not in a morbid way, I remember thinking, 'This must be death.'"

Margaret makes a living as a country singer and a songwriter, while her brother became a doctor in 2021. Besides building successful careers for themselves, the two Sajak siblings also spend as much time as possible with their aging father. Pat has repeatedly confessed that his health has taken a few dips with time.

After living a blissful and content life with Lesly, Pat's first severe health scare happened in 2019. After recovering from emergency surgery, with his co-worker Vanna White taking over while he recuperated, Pat opened up about what happened to him one fateful morning as he went for a walk.

Like almost every other morning, Pat and his daughter got up early and took a refreshing walk together. With a healthy headstart on their daily fitness, they got home and resumed their regular morning routines. As Pat was getting ready to go to the "Wheel of Fortune" set, he was overcome with a terrible pain in his stomach.

The TV host keeled over in pain, curling up into the fetal position without knowing what was happening. Two and a half hours later, he was rushed to emergency surgery. He confessed that the pain was "excruciating" and recalled that his wife and daughter didn't know whether he would survive the surgery.

As he lay in agony, waiting for his blood pressure to rise enough for the doctors to perform the necessary surgery, nurses gave Pat a range of pain medications, but none worked. When they happened upon one that did have an effect, the TV personality recalled having what he believed to be a near-death experience.

The TV presenter recalled that the entire room transformed into pastel shades in front of his eyes, and he could hear Lesly and Margaret talking in the background. He recalled that they sounded far away while standing by his side. With all this happening, Pat sensed he was experiencing death's first touch.

The TV host confessed, "I remember thinking, not in a morbid way, I remember thinking, 'This must be death. This must be what death is like.' And all I thought was, hearing their voices, all I thought was, 'Boy, their lives are gonna change now,' and I felt badly for them. I didn't feel badly about dying."

In place of the usual presenter of "Wheel of Fortune," Vanna took over. Since she was hosting, the spot for letter-turner needed a replacement, so Margaret stepped in to keep her dad's show going while the TV host recovered from surgery. Pat's daughter opened up about the experience, enthusing:

"It was a difficult time for all of us when my father had his surgery, but I was so happy to help out on the show. Vanna was very generous with her time and gave me a lot of pointers, and the staff and crew couldn't have been more helpful or supportive."

Although she enjoyed helping out on the show, Margaret was glad to see her dad getting back on his feet and reclaiming his rightful spot as the face of "Wheel of Fortune." Following his health scare, the presenter mused how long he would stay in business, saying he'd instead leave too early than too late.

Luckily, the surgery went by without a hitch, and Pat felt like his old self in no time. He got back in the saddle of hosting his iconic game show and was glad he walked out of the operation alive. He revealed the cause of the pain was an intestinal blockage, most likely due to a segment of his intestine wrapping around itself.

These days, the TV personality still hosts "Wheel of Fortune," but he also spends much of his time with his family in their home in Severna Park, Maryland. The Sajaks also have a home in Los Angeles, allowing Pat to easily travel to the "Wheel of Fortune" set, although they spend most of their time in Maryland.

Pat Sajak and Lesly Brown on April 28, 2017, in Pasadena, California | Source: Getty Images

As an aging father, Pat spends as much quality time with his kids as possible. The TV host has been seen numerous times enjoying a night out with his family. They seem fond of baseball, and Margaret has been featured in a few of her dad's light-hearted holiday videos that he posts on social media.

In one video, Margaret and Pat could be seen lounging around on holiday as they share a drink at a wooden table, and he jokingly gushes about how much he misses Vanna, his co-worker. Just as he elaborates on how good she is at her job, Vanna steps into the shot, quietly telling Margaret not to say anything to Pat.

Maggie Sajak, Pat Sajak, and Lesly Brown in Los Angeles on November 1, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Vanna then sneakily disappears off-screen again, and Margaret rolls with it. In the post's caption, she wrote, "Your secret's safe with me @officialvannawhite🤫." Pat is also active on Twitter, where he jokingly complained about aging and the toll it takes on your body. He tweeted:

"Well, it happened again this morning. I stepped out of the shower and caught my wife dressing me with her eyes."

Since his divorce from Sherrill, Pat and his wife, Lesly, have been happily married for over three decades, and the TV host hasn't regretted it any day. The presenter spoke candidly about his marriage, saying, "We are already doing the thing where you start a sentence, and the other person finishes it for you."

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