Former 'Jeopardy!' stars and celebrities pay tribute to Alex Trebek
The longtime game show host died at 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
After news broke Sunday that legendary "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek had died following a battle with pancreatic cancer, former contestants and celebrities alike took to social media to express their grief and pay tribute.
Trebek was 80 years old.
"Alex wasn’t just the best ever at what he did. He was also a lovely and deeply decent man, and I’m grateful for every minute I got to spend with him," record-holding "Jeopardy!" star Ken Jennings tweeted. "Thinking today about his family and his Jeopardy! family—which, in a way, included millions of us."
"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," added James Holzhauer, who set records on the show last year. "Alex was so much more than a host. He was an impartial arbiter of truth and facts in a world that needs exactly that. He was someone you could count on to entertain you every weekday, even when his health barely allowed it. And he was an underrated rapper."
Trebek announced his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March 2019 and continued to host "Jeopardy!" throughout his battle with the disease. His final day in the studio was Oct. 29, and episodes in which he appears will air through Dec. 25, according to a statement from "Jeopardy!"
“This is an enormous loss for the 'Jeopardy!' staff, crew and all of Alex’s millions of fans," the show's executive producer, Mike Richards, said. " He was a legend of the industry that we were all lucky to watch night after night for 37 years. Working beside him for the past year and a half as he heroically continued to host 'Jeopardy!' was an incredible honor. His belief in the importance of the show and his willingness to push himself to perform at the highest level was the most inspiring demonstration of courage I have ever seen. His constant desire to learn, his kindness, and his professionalism will be with all of us forever."
Celebrities and other former "Jeopardy!" contestants also reacted to Trebek's death.
Pat Sajak
"The death of Alex Trebek is a tremendous loss for his family, his friends, his co-workers and the millions of viewers who followed his long and illustrious career. It was an honor for me to be a part of his professional family for nearly 40 years. His strength and courage and grace during his recent health struggles inspired countless others. Alex was truly one of a kind.”
Vanna White
“I will cherish the many memories I have shared with Alex Trebek that date back well before either of our careers took off. I will always be in awe of the way he faced the battle he fought so valiantly and I’m devastated to lose my longtime friend. My heart is with his family, friends, co-workers and fans. There will never be another Alex Trebek and he will truly be missed."
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