Alex Trebek dies: “Jeopardy!” The host was 80 years old

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Alex Trebek, the beloved host of the game show “Jeopardy!” since its debut in 1984 in syndication, died of pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old.

The “Jeopardy!” Official A Twitter account broke the news Sunday morning, writing: “Jeopardy! is saddened to learn that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends.

Trebek revealed in March 2019 that he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. “I have lived a great life, a busy life and I am nearing the end of this life,” he told USA Today in October. Sony has confirmed that “Jeopardy!” episodes hosted by Trebek will air until December 25, and his last day in the studio was October 29. “Jeopardy! is not announcing plans for a new host at this time.

“Today we have lost a legend and a beloved member of the Sony Pictures family,” said Tony Vinciquerra, president and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. “For 37 incredible years, Alex has been that heartwarming voice, that moment of escape and fun at the end of a long, difficult day for millions of people around the world. He was the heart and soul of “Jeopardy!” and he will be sadly missed by all who have made him a part of their lives. Our hearts go out to Jean, Matthew, Emily and Nicky.

The jovial host has won five Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host. In 2011, Trebek received a Peabody Award for “encouraging, celebrating and rewarding knowledge”; “Peril!” is the only post-1960 game show to be so honored.

“Jeopardy !,” a game show created by Merv Griffin which first aired on NBC from 1964 to 1975, was once the home province of host Art Fleming, who died in 1995. But now it’s hard to consider the ‘show as something separate from Trebek.

Trebek holds the Guinness World Record for the most game show episodes hosted by the same host (same program) since June 13, 2014. Trebek has hosted over 8,200 episodes of “Jeopardy!” over 37 seasons.

The “Jeopardy!” website included a quote from Trebek – “I think what makes ‘Jeopardy!’ The peculiarity is that, among all the quizzes and game shows, ours tends to reward and encourage learning ”- and from its delivery of the“ answers ”to his interactions with the show’s contestants, Trebek stood by. showed a man interested in intellectual pursuits of all kinds – not an empty suit like so many other game show hosts.

Kenichiro Yoshida, President, President and CEO of Sony Corporation, also paid tribute to Trebek: “We join our colleagues at Sony Pictures in mourning the passing of Alex Trebek. Alex was an extraordinary talent whose intelligence, wit and heartwarming presence wowed millions of people around the world and made “Jeopardy! the exceptional spectacle that it is today.

Trebek has hosted a number of other game shows including “The Wizard of Odds”, “Double Dare”, “High Rollers”, “Battlestars”, “Classic Concentration” and “To Tell the Truth”.

George Alexander Trebek was born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a bilingual home, speaking French and English. He obtained a degree in philosophy from the University of Ottawa.

Interested in a career in news broadcasting, he joined the Société Radio-Canada (CBC), where he covered national news and special events on radio and television. He first hosted a show, CBC’s Music Hop, in 1963. Trebek hosted the CBC classical music shows from 1967 to 1970, including Glenn Gould shows.

Moving to the United States in 1973, he hosted a new game show on NBC, “The Wizard of Odds”. A year later, Trebek hosted the popular game show “High Rollers”, which had two appearances on NBC (1974–76, 1978–80), and one season ticket (1975–76). He hosted the short-lived CBS game show “Double Dare” and the second season of the Toronto tour “The $ 128,000 Question”.

In the heyday of game show, the hosts of these shows often appeared as panelists or players on other shows. In a guest appearance on a special week of NBC’s “Card Sharks” in 1980, Trebek competed against a number of other hosts in a week-long round robin for charity. which he ultimately won.

After a period of frustrating stints hosting short-lived shows, he took the reins of the new syndicated version of “Jeopardy!” in 1984.

In 1987, while continuing to host “Jeopardy !,” Trebek took over as host on NBC’s “Classic Concentration,” his second show for Mark Goodson. He hosted both shows simultaneously until September 1991, when “Classic Concentration” ceased broadcasting. In 1991, Trebek became the first person to host three US game shows at the same time, taking over from NBC’s “To Tell the Truth”, also for Goodson-Todman, from February until that series ended in May. .

A frequent guest and guest host, he has appeared at least twice on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”; and guest on the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” in December 2010 and on “Hot in Cleveland” in March 2014. In the final episode of the series “The Colbert Report” on December 18, 2014, Trebek hosted Colbert then that the latter was boarding a sleigh driven by Santa Claus and Abraham Lincoln and left the studio for the last time. He has also appeared in numerous commercials for Colonial Penn Life Insurance.

In 2011, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which features the Daytime Emmys. He was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame and was also honored as one of the “Broadcast Giants” by the Library of American Broadcasting in 2013, when he also received the Alexander Graham Medal. Bell of the National Geographic Society for its 25th anniversary. years as host of the National Geographic Bee.

Trebek had long-standing commitments to many charities and educational organizations. He has served on the boards of the National Geographic Society Education Foundation and the National Advisory Council for the Literary Volunteers of America. Trebek has been on 13 USO tours and has traveled to many developing countries to support World Vision, reporting on the organization’s efforts on behalf of children. He adopted a village in Zambia, Africa, helping to build a school, houses for teachers and a medical facility.

Trebek was married to Elaine Callei (now known as Elaine Trebek Kares) from 1974 until their divorce in 1981.

He is survived by his second wife, Jean, and his children Matthew, Emily and Nicky.



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