Over a year after announcing his diagnosis of stage four pancreatic cancer, and after nearly four decades as host of the beloved television show Jeopardy!, Alex Trebek has died at the age of 80.
In a statement Jeopardy! said that Trebek’s passing was peaceful and that he was surrounded by friends and family at the time.
Trebek had been open with his fans about his diagnosis, revealing it in a video posted to the Jeopardy! YouTube in March 2019, saying, “I’m going to fight this.”
Both then and now, Trebek and his family were met with outcries of support and love from fans.
“I was really sad when I saw he was diagnosed with cancer,” said Savannah Hynes, a freshman integrated marketing communications major at Winthrop University and “Jeopardy!” fan. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, it’s Alex Trebek, he’ll get over it.’ And I think I remember hearing he was getting better. But I guess it got worse – which was really sad to hear.”
Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Trebek first began his career as a journalist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation but would later move on to hosting such gameshows as Reach for the Top and Jackpot. However, Trebek wouldn’t gain notoriety until 1984, when he was chosen to host the revival of Jeopardy!, which earned him five Daytime Emmy Awards and a Guinness World Record for hosting the most episodes of a single game show.
For many like Hynes, Trebek and Jeopardy! were staples of nightly television with several generations growing up with the genial quiz show host.
“My dad watched Jeopardy! a lot, so sometimes I would watch it with him. It was fun to see if I could listen in and get answers right with him,” Hynes said. “I couldn’t see anyone else as the host. He was funny and adds his own little character to the show.”
Trebek is lesser known for his work in philanthropy. Over the course of his career, Trebek was involved in many philanthropic organizations such as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the Musk Ox Development Organization, and even his own foundation, The Trebek Family Foundation.
For four decades, Trebek had also been partnered with the organization World Vision, a, “Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice,” according to the foundation’s website. During his time serving with World Vision, Trebek visited many impoverished countries, bringing attention to humanitarian crises through his fame and notoriety, as well as donating to the organization.
“We remember him dearly as someone full of humor, a keen wit, an open heart, and genuine love for those suffering and in need. He will be deeply missed,” World Vision said in a statement.
After his death, Jeopardy! revealed that Trebek’s last time taping was on Oct. 29, and that new episodes will continue to air through Dec. 25 of this year. The show said that they have no plans to announce a new host at this time.
Two months after announcing his diagnosis in 2019, Trebek told that he wanted to be remembered as, “Just as a good guy, a nice man. Somebody that you looked at on television on a daily basis and said, ‘Hey, you know what, I like him.’”
Image credit ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS
