Remembering Alex Trebek – “Jeopardy!” host loses his battle with cancer at 80
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The longtime host of popular American television quiz show “Jeopardy!,” Alex Trebek, passed away from pancreatic cancer at age 80.
Trebek, whose full name was George Alexander Trebek OC, was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March 2019 and was undergoing treatment. Since 1984, the award-winning television personality had been hosting “Jeopardy!,” and the news of his demise was met with an outpour of condolences.The official “Jeopardy!” Twitter account released the news to the public, saying he had “passed away peacefully at home" surrounded by family and friends.
Remembering Alex Trebek
Celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Lil Nas X and Melissa Fumero shared their condolences about the popular Canadian American television personality’s passing.
Even Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, shared his praise for the host, describing him as “a proud Canadian and beloved TV star who was a familiar face to millions of people across North America and around the world.”
Trebek had hosted more than 8200 episodes of “Jeopardy!” over the three decades he spent on the show, and was contracted to continue until 2022 while receiving treatment for his cancer. In 2014, Trebek had set a Guinness World Record for “most game show episodes hosted by the same presenter.”
A pop culture icon
Just last week, British actor Sean Connery passed away, and the two legends had shared quite an interesting relationship during their careers that spawned from a popular “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) sketch. In 2013, CBS dug up an Alex Trebek clip where Trebek asked a contestant, “Now of all of the actors who have played James Bond, who was the best?” The contestant immediately responded, “Oh Connery, for sure.” Disappointed, Trebek asks the contestant, “Really?” “Yeah,” the contestant replies. “Still Sean?” sighs Trebek, “I don’t like Sean, for reasons that should be obvious to many of you who watch television on Saturday nights.”
Trebek was referring to SNL’s “Celebrity Jeopardy!” skits, in which an aggressive Sean Connery (played by Will Hammond) would often squabble with and insult an increasingly agitated Alex Trebek (played by Will Farrell). Despite never meeting each other in person officially, the rivalry became so beloved by fans that when the news broke about Trebek’s passing, many fans tweeted about the famous sketch in reference to the recent passing of Sean Connery as well.
“Somewhere in heaven here’s hoping Alex Trebek and Sean Connery are having a laugh. May they both Rest In Peace,” wrote one mourner on Twitter. Another wrote, “Look, I know it was just a skit, but my heart is warm and full with the knowledge that Sean Connery got a week’s head start to come up with fresh material for an eternity with Alex Trebek.”
Trebek is survived by his wife, Jean, and his three children, Matthew, Emily and Nicky.
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