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Vale: Alex Trebek

Veteran US game show host, best known for Jeopardy!, has died.

Veteran US game show host Alex Trebek, best known for Jeopardy! has died, aged 80.

Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends,” the show tweeted.

Trebek revealed in March 2019 that he had been diagnosed with Stage Four pancreatic cancer.

“I have lived a good life, a full life and I’m nearing the end of that life,” he said in October.

Trebek hosted more than 8,200 episodes of Jeopardy! from 1984 – 2020 following Merv Griffin & Art Fleming, landing him in the Guinness Book of Records for the most gameshow episodes hosted by the same presenter plus five Daytime Emmy Awards.

But there were also other north American game shows across his career including The Wizard of Odds, High Rollers, Battlestars, Double Dare, The $128,000 Question, Classic Concentration, To Tell the Truth, plus appearances on How I Met Your Mother, Hot in Cleveland, The Colbert Report and more.

“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.”

Trebek once said, “I think what makes Jeopardy! special is that, among all the quiz and game shows out there, ours tends to reward and encourage learning,” -a point reiterated with his own Peabody Award for “encouraging, celebrating and rewarding knowledge” and a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

His last day in the studio was October 29, with episodes due to run in the US until December 25.

Jeopardy! screens in Australia on FOX Classics and SBS VICELAND.

Source: Variety

6 Responses

  1. So sad to hear of this, though I knew he had been seriously unwell for a couple of years.
    I have gotten used to watching Jeopardy on Foxtel when I get home from work, while I am preparing dinner.
    I also like getting to watch the contestants, in all their sometimes quirky glory, who represent a decent and honourable slice of America. Add to this Alex Trebeck’s gentle humour and mastery of his craft, helping to move the whole show along at a nice clip.

    By the way, don’t ever say ‘all Americans are ignorant’……these contestants are virtual walking encyclopedias who are across all manner of subjects.

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