Although this past weekend was a time of celebration because of the election, we quietly lost one of our favorite television hosts to pancreatic cancer on Sunday. Alex Trebek, host of Jeopardy! since 1984, passed away on Sunday from stage IV pancreatic cancer. Jeopardy! released a statement on Twitter confirming Alex’s death.
Trebek was able to make a few more episodes of Jeopardy! before he died and those final 35 episodes will air from October 29 thru Christmas day according to the show’s statement. Jeopardy’s! press release stated that they will not be announcing Trebek’s replacement at this time. Below is more on the story via US:
The production company said in a press release that Trebek was last in the studio on October 29, just 10 days before he lost his battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. His final episode of the Merv Griffin-created game show is set to air on December 25.
“The show is not announcing plans for a new host at this time,” the press release stated after many Twitter users called for Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time champion Ken Jennings to take over.
Trebek was diagnosed with cancer in March 2019 and continued to host the long-running quiz show for 18 months. He detailed his battle with the disease in his memoir, The Answer Is, which was published in July.
“I’ve lived a good, full life, and I’m nearing the end of it. I know that,” he wrote, telling readers that he was “not afraid of dying.”
Nearly one year into his cancer battle, the Canada native revealed that he had rehearsed the ending for his final episode of Jeopardy!, which he began hosting in 1984.
“What I would do on that day is tell the director, ‘Time the show down to leave me 30 seconds at the end. That’s all I want,’” he said on Good Morning America in January. “I will say my goodbyes and I will tell people, ‘Don’t ask me who’s going to replace me because I have no say whatsoever. But I’m sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you have shown me, then they will be a success and the show will continue being a success. And until we meet again, God bless you and goodbye.’”
Alex Trebek has been one of my favorite game show hosts since I was a kid. I remember watching Jeopardy! every day after school. The nerd in me always felt seen because of Alex and Jeopardy! Alex has always seemed like a class act whose sense of humor would come out on the show. His voice and presence will definitely be missed and for me his death is like the end of an era. The last decade I have seen most of the celebrities who shaped my childhood pass away and that has been a bit hard to accept.
Last night, executive producer Mike Richards made an announcement before the show that Alex had passed. He said that Alex was filming up until two weeks ago and that there are 35 episodes left to air. They will air them as they shot them, which is what Alex wanted.
I send my condolences to his family. Remember to hold your loved ones close today. Here are a few reactions to his passing:
Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex. pic.twitter.com/Yk2a90CHIM
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) November 8, 2020
I’m so saddened that Alex Trebek has passed. Growing up, he made me feel like my nerdiness was valuable and I loved learning from watching jeopardy. It was our family’s nightly pleasure. https://t.co/MQLfQz6Fa1
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) November 8, 2020
I was obsessed with Jeopardy as a nerdy kid growing up in Ohio. I’ve loved and revered Alex Trebek since I can remember. What an iconic career. RIP Alex Trebek.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) November 8, 2020
RIP Alex Trebek. A true, true gentleman and courageous hero. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest 💛 pic.twitter.com/autbyxnlcs
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) November 8, 2020
Alex Trebek was kind enough to film a cameo for our film Free Guy last year despite his battle. He was gracious and funny. In addition to being curious, stalwart, generous, reassuring and of course, Canadian. We love you, Alex. And always will.
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) November 8, 2020
Alex's impact is immeasurable. Thank you for sharing, Burt! pic.twitter.com/XgGGwJ8GlH
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) November 6, 2020
Photos credit: WENN and Avalon.red
The opening remarks last night from the producer made me cry – he was tearing up, it was hard to watch.
I almost don’t want to watch Jeopardy with another host. I’d rather just watch reruns, lol.
I know 3 people who have been on it and they have all said he was so nice and really made them feel comfortable.
Alex Trebek was a class act.
He’s from my hometown way up in Canada and so I always felt a sort of kinship with him for that reason.
He was the best thing to come out of my town, bar none.
May he rest in peace now and forever with God.
On the news, they showed Parliament Hill’s Carillon playing The Jeopardy theme song – so beautiful:
https://www.narcity.com/en-ca/news/ottawa/alex-trebek-was-remembered-by-canadian-parliament-with-a-heartwrenching-song-video
I was born in Sudbury too! Long enough ago that I used to watch the high school gameshow that Alex hosted on CBC, and hoped that I too could one day Reach for the Top! Alex hosted a lot of silly 70s gameshows here in Canada but I remember how proud I was when I first saw him on Jeopardy – what a great match between host and content!
My cousin was On Reach For The Top all those years ago and it is still talked about in my family.
Alex really was a class act, I hope he realizes how beloved he was to so many of us.
My father in law died of pancreatic cancer (which is so insidious), and the fact that Alex Trebek made it filming until October 29th is incredible. What strength and dignity in the face of death.
I don’t usually get very emotional when a cebrity passes away, but this one hit me really hard. I’ve been crying for a couple days. It is like losing my favorite uncle. I grew up in a…difficult home situation, but Jeopardy (and Wheel of Fortune) was always constant. I watched Jeopardy daily from 1985-1997, and at least a couple times each week since then. Now that I have school-aged children we record it and then have mini-marathons about once a week, and my kids gets SO excited when they know a question–just as I did at their age!
I never got a chance to meet Alex, but I did get to tour the Jeopardy set last year and meet a couple of the writers & researchers (a friend of a friend has researched for Jeopardy for 18yrs). Everyone spoke SO highly of Alex, and just adored him. I’ve never had the confidence to take the Jeopardy test, but being on that set was a bucket list experience for me. I’ll miss him terribly.
2020 continues to suck…007 and now Trebek…someone check on Betty White
With the new episodes airing, it doesn’t even seem like he’s gone. I watched last night with an eerie feeling. RIP, Alex.
I am so saddened by the passing of this wonderful man. During the pandemic, my family took to watching Jeopardy most nights via FaceTime even though we don’t live in the same city. We sync our televisions and watch simultaneously, cheering each other on when we get the “questions” correct. It has been an amazingly bonding ritual with out-of-town family.
If and when they select a replacement host, I really hope they don’t go with Ken Jennings. I know he joined this season to read “answers” and omg he’s just awful. He really lacks personality on air and his inflated ego always shines through. It would always be about him rather than about the contestants. That’s the thing about Alex Trebek: He always made it about the contestants, not himself.