This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Alex was a throwback to a generation of self-reliant, self-taught generalists - curious about everything, eager to try everything for himself.” He was on his way home to work on one of his endless DIY projects around the house: the roof, the plumbing, the pool. “Sometimes one of his kids” - he had two with wife Jean, Matthew and Emily, and one from his first marriage, Nicky - “was in tow. Ken Jennings, who holds the record for 74 straight wins on Jeopardy!, penned a tribute in Time and shared how it was when the show wrapped, “I would often see him in a baseball cap and dad jeans, heading for his pickup truck,” a departure from his signature suit. It seems like everybody has a Trebek story, and here are some - from contestants, other celebrities and some who witnessed his acts of generosity: Luckily, there is a seemingly endless supply of nice stories about the popular game show host to help lessen the sting. Jeopardy! watchers and non-watchers alike are hurting over the loss of host Alex Trebek, who died Sunday from pancreatic cancer. He later left the show altogether.īialik has been filling in for now, a gig she's sharing with Jeopardy!'s winningest player, Ken Jennings (though Matt Amodio is on his heels).There is no shortage of posthumous stories about Alex Trebek, pictured here in 2019.
Days into the job, Richards stepped down after offensive and sexist comments he made were resurfaced. In August, it was announced that executive producer Mike Richards would take over as syndicated show host with Mayim Bialik as emcee of prime-time specials. Trebek's death led to a big search for the next host of Jeopardy! Immediately, the show went with guest hosts to audition potential replacements.
I find that being with my family and friends or doing something creative and new is really helpful." Sometimes I feel as if he’s been on a long vacation, and then there are other times that the reality of the absence of his presence is really palatable. There are moments of my day that I miss Alex so much, and I just have to allow myself those times. She said, 'Grief is the price you pay for having loved.' It’s true. "I’m reminded of what Queen Elizabeth ll said when Prince Phillip recently passed away.
It was astonishing!"Īhead of the first anniversary of his death, Jean also spoke about how she's been coping with grief. at our home address, and I knew that the studio was receiving so much more. We received cartons of mail every day filled with get-well cards. "I started realizing just how much he was adored by people from all walks of life when he made his public announcement that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. "I knew the show was very successful and that people really liked him - a lot," said Jean, who met Alex four years into his famous hosting job. That changed when he went public with his cancer diagnosis in March 2019.
When we did go out, it was perhaps for a quick dinner or movie every now and then, so it wasn’t like we were always out in public for me to really notice his popularity." For the most part, Alex and I enjoyed staying at home.
The InsideWink editor said it "was important to Alex to keep his personal life separate from his professional life, unless it was 'needed,'" meaning they had to attend "an award show or something like that.