On Sunday the official Jeopardy! Twitter account announced that the show’s longtime host, Alex Trebek, had died that morning after a long battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.
Trebek made a longtime career as a television host, first in his native Canada with the CBC and later on a host of American shows and game shows. His most iconic job, however, was as the host of the popular quiz show, Jeopardy!, where he was nominated for 37 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning seven.
Trebek’s warm demeanor, droll sense of humor, and deep intelligence made him beloved for millions of fans of the show. This loss feels deep for many of us, I believe, because of how much time we spent with the man, and how much so many of us trusted him.
He took a difficult quiz show with a weird, answers-as-questions format, and made it warm, familial, and surprisingly funny. That show is nothing without Trebek — under someone with less talent, Jeopardy! would have been too confusing, too high brow, too slow. With him, it became one of the most successful and long-running television shows of all time.
Fans and past contestants were devastated to hear the news:
It was one of the great privileges of my life to spend time with this courageous man while he fought the battle of his life. You will never be replaced in our hearts, Alex. https://t.co/LLoUASRMa9
— James Holzhauer (@James_Holzhauer) November 8, 2020
Alex Trebek made television smarter. He made America better. RIP.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 8, 2020
An absolute legend who celebrated knowledge and made a straightforward Q&A game show so much fun with a delightful mischievous streak. RIP to TV royalty, and a celebrity puckhead. https://t.co/WUMnHCjZG1
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) November 8, 2020
RIP to Alex Trebek, the GOAT of game shows pic.twitter.com/uYBTSnrFyj
— SportsPaper (@SportsPaperInfo) November 8, 2020
We have lost a fine Canadian gentleman who was always gentle as he asked us to pose the questions. Bless you Alex Trebek and the knowledge and dignity you showed us. 🇨🇦
— Nia Vardalos (@NiaVardalos) November 8, 2020
I was so lucky to get to spend time with Alex Trebek while writing my Jeopardy! book. The most amazing, wonderful thing about him is he was exactly who he seemed to be as host: funny, sharp, self-deprecating – and above all, who admired his contestants. https://t.co/MKftY1BWk7
— Claire McNear (@clairemcnear) November 8, 2020
This man was the greatest game show host of all time.
Who was Alex Trebek?
— Touré (@Toure) November 8, 2020
RIP to a true television icon, Alex Trebek! Thanks for making knowledge important and fun for all of us who grew up with you in our homes pic.twitter.com/ZLfP3dDcLY
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) November 8, 2020
trebek, man. how many faces do you see every night for decades?
— doreen st. félix (@dstfelix) November 8, 2020
