Alex Trebek
Alex Trebek was a celebrated Canadian-American television personality, best known for his role as the host of the iconic quiz show *Jeopardy!*. Born on July 22, 1940, in Sudbury, Ontario, Trebek had a diverse heritage, with a father who was a Russian immigrant and a mother with French Canadian and American Indian ancestry. He initially considered a religious life but eventually earned a degree in philosophy from the University of Ottawa. Trebek's television career began in 1961 with the Canadian Broadcasting Company, leading to a variety of hosting roles on game shows, including *The Wizard of Odds* and *Classic Concentration*.
In 1984, he became the host of *Jeopardy!*, a role that would earn him significant acclaim and recognition, including thirty-five Daytime Emmy Awards by 2019. Trebek continued to host *Jeopardy!* until his passing on November 8, 2020, after battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Beyond his television work, he was also involved in humanitarian efforts and received several honors for his contributions, including being named an officer of the Order of Canada. Trebek's legacy is remembered fondly by fans and colleagues alike for his intelligence, grace, and dedication to the art of quiz show hosting.
Subject Terms
Alex Trebek
Television personality
- Born: July 22, 1940
- Birthplace: Sudbury, Ontario
- Died: November 8, 2020
- Place of death: Los Angeles, California
Contribution: Alex Trebek is the long-time host of the top-rated syndicated television quiz show Jeopardy! He assumed hosting duties of the show in 1984 and had won six Daytime Emmy Awards in that role by 2019. As host, Trebek deftly directs the flow of the show, announcing the trivia categories for each round, reading out the answers to the questions that contestants must ask to win money, and calling on contestants who ring in. Born in Canada but a naturalized United States citizen since 1998, Trebek was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000 and a maple leaf on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2006.
Early Life & Education
George Alexander Trebek was born on July 22, 1940, in Sudbury, a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. His father, George Edward Trebek, was a Russian immigrant, and his mother, Lucille (Lagace) Trebek, was French Canadian with American Indian ancestry.
As a young man, Trebek considered joining the priesthood and spent a summer at a Trappist monastery. He also spent another summer as a sanitation worker in Ohio. Instead of becoming a priest, Trebek earned a degree in philosophy from the University of Ottawa.
Television Career
Alex Trebek’s first job as a newscaster was for the Canadian Broadcasting Company in 1961. After becoming known for his professionalism in covering national news and special events for television and radio, he took a position as quizmaster for the Canadian game show Reach for the Top in 1965.
Trebek moved to the United States in 1973 to host The Wizard of Odds, another game show, on National Broadcasting Company (NBC). He also hosted other television game shows, including Pitfall, Battlestars, The $128,000 Question, Double Dare, High Rollers, and Strategy. Trebek also once filled in as host of the daytime version of Wheel of Fortune.
In 1984, producer Merv Griffin chose Trebek to host the revived quiz show Jeopardy! that had been hosted by Art Fleming in its popular first run during the 1960s and 1970s. For a long time, it ranked as the top television quiz show in America and was the recipient of thirty-five Daytime Emmy Awards by 2019, including six for its host.
Trebek also hosted Classic Concentration on NBC from 1987 through 1991 and received four Emmy nominations in this role. In all, Trebek has hosted or cohosted over twenty-five shows, including pilots. For twenty-five years, from 1989 to 2013, Trebek hosted the finals of the National Geographic Bee (formerly the National Geography Bee).
In 1998, the same year he acquired United States citizenship, Trebek was honored with the Bob Hope Entertainment Award for his work supporting and entertaining army troops stationed abroad on behalf of the USO. He has also been a spokesman for World Vision, an international humanitarian organization. In early 2017, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada. Trebek suffered mild heart attacks in 2007 and 2012 in addition to undergoing brain surgery in 2018 due to blood clots, but he continued hosting Jeopardy! after his recovery. After having both hosted and served as an executive producer for the documentary Game Changers and renewed his contract with Jeopardy! in 2018 to extend his role through 2022, in March 2019, he publicly shared that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and would be receiving treatment in an attempt to fight the cancer. As he continued to host the show, he also made efforts to increase awareness about pancreatic cancer, including releasing a public service announcement in October. On November 8, 2020, Trebek died from his cancer. At the time of his death, he had hosted Jeopardy! for thirty-seven years.
Personal Life
Trebek was married to Elaine Callei from 1974 to 1981. In 1990, he married Jean Currivan. They have two children, Emily and Matthew.
For many years, Trebek owned a seven-hundred-acre thoroughbred horse farm in Creston, California, where he used to own a vineyard. He speaks fluent French as well as a little German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian.
Principal Works
Music Hop, 1963–64
Reach for the Top, 1966–73
Strategy, 1969
High Rollers, 1974–76, 1978–80
Double Dare, 1976–77
Stars on Ice, 1976–80
The $128,000 Question, 1977–78
Pitfall, 1981–82
Battlestars, 1981–83
Jeopardy!, 1984–
Classic Concentration, 1987–91
National Geography Bee, 1989–2013
Bibliography
Barshad, Amos. “What is ‘Indestructible’?: Alex Trebek Survives Mild Heart Attack.” Grantland. ESPN Internet Ventures, 25 June. 2012. Web. 31 July 2013.
Doubek, James. "'Jeopardy!' Host Alex Trebek Says He Has Pancreatic Cancer." NPR, 7 Mar. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/03/07/700991546/jeopardy-host-alex-trebek-says-he-has-pancreatic-cancer. Accessed 12 Dec. 2019.
Jacobs, A. J. “Alex Trebek.” Esquire 139.4 (2003): 114–15. Print.
Kramer, Melody. “Alex Trebek: On Hosting the National Geographic Bee.” National Geographic. National Geographic Soc., 22 May 2013. Web. 31 July 2013.
Moore, Frazier. “‘Jeopardy’: Alex Trebek Talks Career, Mustache and Plans Exit.” Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 29 May 2012. Web. 31 July 2013.
Seelye, Katharine Q. "Alex Trebek, Longtime Host of ‘Jeopardy!,’ Dies at 80." The New York Times, 9 Nov. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/11/08/arts/television/alex-trebek-dead.html. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.
Stone, Daniel. “Is Alex Trebek in Jeopardy?” Newsweek 21 Feb. 2011: 42–43. Print.