The G.O.A.T. is gone but he will forever hold a special place in our hearts
When it comes to game shows, Jeopardy! is arguably the greatest.
The Price is Right may be the longest-running game show and Wheel of Fortune might be a nightly ritual for millions of Americans, but nothing beats Jeopardy!— and there is no game show host that is as popular and universally loved as Mr. Alex Trebek.
Unfortunately, as of today, Jeopardy! will never be the same.
Alex Trebek, the host of the popular syndicated game show passed away from pancreatic cancer Sunday. He was 80-years-old.
"Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex," read a message from the official Jeopardy! Twitter account Sunday afternoon.
Trebek was born in Sudbury, Ontario, on July 22, 1940, the son of George Edward Trebek, a chef who had emigrated from Ukraine as a child, and Lucille Lagacé, a Franco-Ontarian.
He grew up in a bilingual French-English household and his first job was working as a bellhop at age 13 at the same hotel where his father worked. After graduating from the University of Ottawa with a degree in philosophy, he became interested in news reporting and broadcast journalism. From there he landed a job at CBC and began his career as a news reporter and sportscaster. In 1984, Trebek took over as the host of Jeopardy! and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Canadian-born host revealed he was suffering from Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in a video posted to the show’s official social media channels on March 6, 2019.
“Now, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer,” he said. “Now normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this, and I’m going to keep working.
“And with the love and support of my family and friends and with the help of your prayers, also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease,” he said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared his condolences in a tweet on Sunday, saying we have “lost an icon.”
“Almost every night for more than three decades, Alex Trebek entertained and educated millions around the world, instilling in so many of us a love for trivia,” he wrote. “My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who are mourning this tremendous loss.”
He leaves behind his wife, Jean Currivan, and their two children, Matthew and Emily.
