this band's monster album included Crush With Eyeliner, R E M Jeopardy's Alex Trebek had all the answers on the popular game show. The revamped version of Jeopardy was an instant hit when it debuted in 1984 with its distinctive answering question format, the syndicated game show made the Canadian born Trebek a star. Luck plays a very important part in success and television. If you're lucky enough to wind up on a show that the people take the heart, then uh, you're set. Jonathan, the long running game show earned him five Daytime Emmy Awards and a lifetime achievement award for outstanding game show host from the Television Academy. Being nominated is nice. You don't get too excited about it. But I'll tell you something. If I were not nominated, I think I'd be disappointed. I'd be sad because you work hard. You do your best. You think you're doing quality work and you want to know that people recognize you for that. Jeopardy wasn't his only gig. The husband and father of three also hosted the National Geography Bee for 25 years, a city that is divided by a river of the same name. The talented host, became a U. S citizen in 1998 and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame the following year. Truly honored. I don't feel I deserve it. But there are a lot of other things in life that I had that I didn't deserve and I've enjoyed on. Suffered with. In the middle of Jeopardy's 18th season, Trebek made headlines when he shaved his signature mustache. He told Larry King it was all on a whim. I just walked into the makeup room and I said, Give me the hair Clippers and I just want took it right off just to see what it would look like on camera. The audience reacted pretty favorably when I went home, however, my wife and my two kids did not even notice. Family and fans both took notice when Trebek suffered through some health scares. There were two mild heart attacks, one in 2007 and another five years later. In 2017 surgeons remove blood clots from his brain and then, in 2019, this announcement to fans this week I was diagnosed with Stage four pancreatic cancer. Now, normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I'm going to fight this. Trebek often gave back to his community and was a strong supporter for charities such his world vision, the USO and the National Geographic Education Foundation. The affable host was grateful for his rich television career and kept it all in perspective. When I leave, somebody younger will be doing the show, and it'll carry on shows I have a life that is independent of their hosts. That doesn't mean that, uh, they won't miss the host, but they'll develop an allegiance to the new guy on, and that's the way it should be because it's a quality program. And even though the show must go on, Alex Trebek will be forever remembered as the irreplaceable host of Jeopardy.
How Alex Trebek became the face of 鈥楯eopardy!鈥�
![Prevention logo]()
Updated: 9:35 AM CST Nov 9, 2020
In March 2019, when Alex Trebek shared the devastating news that he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, his fans were left wondering if he would retire from his longtime role as the host of "Jeopardy!" Trebek had been the face of 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Favorite Quiz Show鈥� for 36 years.Trebek revealed his cancer diagnosis in a video message posted to the "Jeopardy!" YouTube channel. 鈥淗i everyone, I have some news to share with all of you,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.鈥滵etermined to fight the disease, Trebek said that he would continue to work on the show, as long as he felt healthy enough. 鈥淣ormally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I鈥檓 going to fight this and I鈥檓 going to keep working,鈥� he said at the time.After a hard-fought battle, Trebek died Sunday at the age of 80, nearly two years after his diagnosis. In his memory, we wanted to take a look at how Alex Trebek became one of the most successful television figures of all time.He worked in broadcasting to help fund his college tuitionWhile it鈥檚 hard to believe, Trebek didn鈥檛 always host game shows. Born and raised in Sudbury, Canada, a young Trebek headed to the Canadian capital to study philosophy and journalism at the University of Ottawa. To help fund his college tuition, he worked part-time as a fill-in reporter and newscaster at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.After graduation, in 1961, Trebek landed his first full-time gig at the CBC as a staff announcer covering weather, news and regional sports on radio and television broadcasts. As his on-screen reputation grew, he decided to shift his focus to special programming and game shows. At 26, the television personality became the host of the popular Canadian quiz show "Reach for the Top."In 1973, Trebek landed his breakout role in the United States as host of "The Wizards of Odds." The show only lasted one season, but Trebek signed on to host its replacement, another game show called "High Rollers." In the meantime, he hosted other game shows in both the U.S. and Canada, such as "The $128,000 Question," "Double Dare" and "Pitfall."Trebek got his big break in the 80s Ten years after moving to the U.S., Trebek was recruited by famed "Wheel of Fortune" creator Merv Griffin to host another game show: "Jeopardy!" At the time, the show was struggling. It first aired from 1964 to 1975 before being canceled by NBC. But enter Trebek鈥檚 warm smile, dry humor and charming personality, and the show was gaining popularity by 1989. In fact, the host was nominated for his first Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding game show host for "Jeopardy!" that same year 鈥� and won six more Emmys in the years to come. In 1991, he became the first person to host three American game shows at the same time when he took on jobs for "Classic Concentration" and "To Tell the Truth."More than 8,000 episodes later, Trebek became synonymous with "Jeopardy!" In 2013, it earned the No. 1 spot on TV Guide鈥檚 list of the 60 Greatest Game Shows of All Time.
In March 2019, when Alex Trebek shared the , his fans were left wondering if he would retire from his longtime role as the host of "Jeopardy!" Trebek had been the face of 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Favorite Quiz Show鈥� for 36 years.
Trebek revealed his cancer diagnosis in a video message posted to the . 鈥淗i everyone, I have some news to share with all of you,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 .鈥�
Determined to fight the disease, Trebek said that he would continue to work on the show, as long as he felt healthy enough. 鈥淣ormally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I鈥檓 going to fight this and I鈥檓 going to keep working,鈥� he said at the time.
After a hard-fought battle, Trebek died Sunday at the age of 80, nearly two years after his diagnosis.
In his memory, we wanted to take a look at how Alex Trebek became one of the most successful television figures of all time.
He worked in broadcasting to help fund his college tuition
While it鈥檚 hard to believe, Trebek didn鈥檛 always host game shows. Born and raised in Sudbury, Canada, a young Trebek headed to the Canadian capital to study philosophy and journalism at the University of Ottawa. To help fund his college tuition, he worked part-time as a fill-in reporter and newscaster at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
After graduation, in 1961, Trebek at the CBC as a staff announcer covering weather, news and regional sports on radio and television broadcasts. As his on-screen reputation grew, he decided to shift his focus to special programming and game shows. At 26, the television personality became the host of the popular Canadian quiz show "Reach for the Top."
In 1973, Trebek landed his breakout role in the United States as host of "The Wizards of Odds." The show only lasted one season, but Trebek signed on to host its replacement, another game show called "High Rollers." In the meantime, he hosted other game shows in both the U.S. and Canada, such as "The $128,000 Question," "Double Dare" and "Pitfall."
Trebek got his big break in the 80s
Ten years after moving to the U.S., Trebek was recruited by famed "Wheel of Fortune" creator Merv Griffin to host another game show: "Jeopardy!" At the time, the show was struggling. It first aired before being canceled by NBC.
But enter Trebek鈥檚 warm smile, dry humor and charming personality, and the show was gaining popularity by 1989. In fact, the host for his first Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding game show host for "Jeopardy!" that same year 鈥� and won six more Emmys in the years to come. In 1991, he became the first person to host three American game shows at the same time when he took on jobs for "Classic Concentration" and "To Tell the Truth."
More than , Trebek became synonymous with "Jeopardy!" In 2013, it earned the No. 1 spot on TV Guide鈥檚 list of the .
