Alex Trebek, host of Jeopardy! passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends, according to the show. He was 80 years old.
Alex was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2019, and he continued to host Jeopardy! for the next 18 months. Throughout that time, Alex was open and public about his battle with cancer. Jeopardy! episodes hosted by Alex will air through December 25, 2020 (his last day in the studio was October 29). The show is not announcing plans for a new host at this time.
Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Alex hosted dozens of game shows before becoming the host of Jeopardy! in its syndicated debut in 1984. He hosted more than 8,200 Jeopardy! episodes over the course of nearly 37 seasons, setting a Guinness World Record for hosting the most episodes of a single game show. Alex won the Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Game Show Host seven times and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He received the Order of Canada honor from his native land in 2017. (Here at The Jeopardy! Fan, I had the pleasure of meeting Alex Trebek at my final audition for the show, two days before he accepted the award.)
“This is an enormous loss for the Jeopardy! staff, crew, and all of Alex’s millions of fans. He was a legend of the industry that we were all lucky to watch night after night for 37 years. Working beside him for the past year and a half as he heroically continued to host Jeopardy! was an incredible honor. His belief in the importance of the show and his willingness to push himself to perform at the highest level was the most inspiring demonstration of courage I have ever seen. His constant desire to learn, his kindness, and his professionalism will be with all of us forever,” said Mike Richards, Jeopardy! Executive Producer.
Alex is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jean, and children Matthew, Emily, and Nicky. The family has announced no plans for a service, but gifts in Alex’s memory could go to World Vision, according to the show.
A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Trebek’s career began in Canada, at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, in the early 1960s. He then famously hosted Reach for the Top as well as curling coverage in Canada before heading to the United States. His American game show hosting career included The Wizard of Odds, High Rollers, the 1970s CBS version of Double Dare, The $128,000 Question, Pitfall, Battlestars, Classic Concentration, and the 1990-91 version of To Tell the Truth.
The Jeopardy! Fan raised and donated $648.11 to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in 2019 and 2020 through the sale of shirts.
Alex A role model to so many. Tuning in nightly was what we did every day for years along with half the nation. You didn’t have to be in the room to know it was Jeopardy time. You knew that “Voice”. Jeopardy may continue,but that
“Voice” is gone forever. RIP
A few of my favorite things about Alex Trebek during Jeopardy:
1. sincerely thanking Johnny Gilbert and the audience
2. joking with contestants as they tell anecdotes about themselves
3. admitting his mistakes with the contestants’ questions (especially if it costs them money)
4. encouraging the third-place contestants
5. choking up when a contestant writes or says that they love him
6. asking us to “please join us again tomorrow, won’t you?”
I’m old enough I watched the original Jeopardy series with Art Fleming and remember the last clue answer in that series – ‘what is ‘Tomorrow is another Day’…?’ They hit a home run with Alex as the successor host when they started up again, and let’s hope they do as well again this time… Alex’s last show on December 25 will be a nice little Christmas present for us all….
A class act for six decades on television. I was admirer even in the years leading up to J!, enjoying all the shows he hosted (Double Dare being a personal favorite). I hope the people that have the rights to all the shows he’s done continue to make them available to viewers for many years to come. Condolences to Jean and the family. Thank you Alex, the most true of true Daily Doubles!
Our family evenings for the last 30 years have always started with Alex and Jeopardy. A true gentleman. Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex’s family.
He really made a difference in this world. He had so many groups phientropic causes. He was a polite interesting Canadian .
He was the man. He will be missed by countless Millions.
There are not enough words nor answers in the world to know why..but I felt like Alex Trebek was a ‘grown ups version’ of Mr. Rogers..engaging our minds, expanding our areas of knowledge.., to end your work day ..and turn on Jeopardy..was a great gift. My condolences to his family. And thank you for sharing him.. every 30 minutes a night with us,..the general and most grateful public.
I will not mourn Alex, I will celebrate his life. The quintessential,classic gentleman. He made a simple ‘game show’ into an essential part of millions of lives. He made us smile, he made us enjoy our day. We loved and respected him.
He is irreplaceable and one of a kind. I do so hope the show will take it’s time in finding someone to host Jeopardy? Alex cannot be replaced. “Thank you, Alex, for giving us so much pleasure.” God Bless You,Bless your family. Rest In Peace.