Remembering Alex Trebek
• Alex Trebek, the iron man of game show hosts and the beloved host of Jeopardy! since its 1984 debut in syndication, died Sunday after a brave, nearly two-year battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He was 80. The official Jeopardy! Twitter account broke the sad news on Sunday morning, writing, simply, “Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex.”
As reported by Variety, Trebek revealed back in March 2019 that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer; meanwhile, he fought like hell — and continued work — Sony confirmed that Trebek’s last day in the studio was Oct. 29, and Jeopardy! episodes hosted by Trebek will air through Dec. 25. Jeopardy! is not announcing plans for a new host at this time.
Trebek hosted more than 8,200 episodes of Jeopardy! over the course of 37 seasons and held the Guinness World Record for the most game show episodes hosted by the same host since June 13, 2014, and winning five Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host. In 2011, Trebek received a Peabody Award for “encouraging, celebrating and rewarding knowledge” — Jeopardy! is the only post-1960 game show to be so honored. In 2011 Trebek was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which presents the Daytime Emmys. In 2013 he was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame and also honored as one of the “Giants of Broadcasting” by the Library of American Broadcasting, and he was the recipient of the Alexander Graham Bell Medal from the National Geographic Society for his 25 years as host of the National Geographic Bee.
“Today we lost a legend and a beloved member of the Sony Pictures family,” said Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman & CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. “For 37 amazing years, Alex was that comforting voice, that moment of escape and entertainment at the end of a long, hard day for millions of people around the world. He was the heart and soul of Jeopardy! and he will be deeply missed by everyone who made him part of their lives. Our hearts go out to [wife] Jean, [and his children] Matthew, Emily and Nicky.”
• Our friends at Benztown have made available an Audio tribute to Alex Trebek for you to use, written and voiced by Bill Royal and produced by Adam Kecskemeti.
