Alex Trebek.Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty
The Daytime Emmy Award winner announced in March of 2019 that he’d been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, though promised to “fight this” and keep working.
Trebek ultimately succumbed to the disease on Nov. 8, 2020. He was 80 years old.
Here, on the third anniversary of his death, look back on Trebek’s life in photos.
01of 07
Alex Trebek’s Canadian Roots
Young Alex Trebek.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Trebekgraduated from the University of Ottawawith a degree in philosophy as his television career started taking off.
02of 07Alex Trebek’s Early Career at CBCAlex Trebek on CBC.Joey Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesWhile at CBC, Trebek read for the company’s national radio news and covered a wide range of special events for CBC Radio and CBC Television, including some sports coverage.He went on to host a series of quiz and game shows for CBC likeTo Tell the Truth,Reach for the Top,a high school quiz show, andStrategy, a weekday afternoon game show.Trebek eventually moved to the United States in 1973, where he landed a job at NBC hosting a new game show,The Wizard of Odds.One year later, he married his first wife, broadcaster Elaine Callei in 1974. They later divorced in 1981.
02of 07
Alex Trebek’s Early Career at CBC
Alex Trebek on CBC.Joey Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
While at CBC, Trebek read for the company’s national radio news and covered a wide range of special events for CBC Radio and CBC Television, including some sports coverage.
He went on to host a series of quiz and game shows for CBC likeTo Tell the Truth,Reach for the Top,a high school quiz show, andStrategy, a weekday afternoon game show.
Trebek eventually moved to the United States in 1973, where he landed a job at NBC hosting a new game show,The Wizard of Odds.One year later, he married his first wife, broadcaster Elaine Callei in 1974. They later divorced in 1981.
03of 07Alex Trebek Joins ‘Jeopardy!‘Alex Trebek on Jeopardy.Frank Lennon/Toronto Star via Getty ImagesNot long after his divorce, Trebek landed the role ofJeopardy!host in 1984, becoming a household name over the nearly 40 years that he fronted the series.It was during his early years on the show that Trebek was introduced to the love of his life and wife, Jean Currivan Trebek. At the time, Alex had been hostingJeopardy!for just four years, and Jean, then 23, was doing part-time bookkeeping for one of Alex’s friends.“With Jean it just happened,” Alex wrote in hismemoir,The Answer Is…Reflections On My Life. “Sometimes you look at something, you look at someone, and you know. I mean, you’ve heard stories of people who meet and decide within half an hour; I knew this was going to be the person I’d end up with. With Jeanie that’s how it was. I wasn’t looking for love. But I recognized at a gut level that here was someone who was going to complete me as a human being.”
03of 07
Alex Trebek Joins ‘Jeopardy!’
Alex Trebek on Jeopardy.Frank Lennon/Toronto Star via Getty Images
Not long after his divorce, Trebek landed the role ofJeopardy!host in 1984, becoming a household name over the nearly 40 years that he fronted the series.
It was during his early years on the show that Trebek was introduced to the love of his life and wife, Jean Currivan Trebek. At the time, Alex had been hostingJeopardy!for just four years, and Jean, then 23, was doing part-time bookkeeping for one of Alex’s friends.
“With Jean it just happened,” Alex wrote in hismemoir,The Answer Is…Reflections On My Life. “Sometimes you look at something, you look at someone, and you know. I mean, you’ve heard stories of people who meet and decide within half an hour; I knew this was going to be the person I’d end up with. With Jeanie that’s how it was. I wasn’t looking for love. But I recognized at a gut level that here was someone who was going to complete me as a human being.”
04of 07Alex Trebek’s Multiple Health BattlesAlex Trebek on SNL.Mary Ellen Matthews/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesJeopardy’s popularity with Trebek earned the show its own parody sketch series onSaturday Night Live from 1996 through 2015, withWill Ferrellportraying the popular host.But on a heavier note, throughout his time onJeopardy!,Trebek also battled numerous health issues, including two heart attacks,a full knee replacement, surgery to remove blood clots on his brain and atorn Achilles tendon.Speaking with PEOPLE in January 2019, the beloved host admitted that he knew he should be more active to improve his health, but that he was resistant. “If I really wanted to do it, I would do it. I’ve got a little room over there with an exercise treadmill, and if I wanted to exercise and I thought it was really important, I would do it. But I don’t do it. I’m not a person who exercises for the sake of exercise, but I should start,” he said. “I’m becoming more sedentary, and that’s not a good thing.”
04of 07
Alex Trebek’s Multiple Health Battles
Alex Trebek on SNL.Mary Ellen Matthews/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Jeopardy’s popularity with Trebek earned the show its own parody sketch series onSaturday Night Live from 1996 through 2015, withWill Ferrellportraying the popular host.
But on a heavier note, throughout his time onJeopardy!,Trebek also battled numerous health issues, including two heart attacks,a full knee replacement, surgery to remove blood clots on his brain and atorn Achilles tendon.
Speaking with PEOPLE in January 2019, the beloved host admitted that he knew he should be more active to improve his health, but that he was resistant. “If I really wanted to do it, I would do it. I’ve got a little room over there with an exercise treadmill, and if I wanted to exercise and I thought it was really important, I would do it. But I don’t do it. I’m not a person who exercises for the sake of exercise, but I should start,” he said. “I’m becoming more sedentary, and that’s not a good thing.”
05of 07Alex Trebek’s Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer DiagnosisAlex Trebek on Jeopardy.Eric McCandless via Getty ImagesIn March 2019, Trebek first revealed to fans that he had beendiagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.In a somber video message, the ABC game show host vowed to “fight” the disease and also continue working hostingJeopardy!while being treated for the disease.“Now normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this and I’m going to keep working,” he said.
05of 07
Alex Trebek’s Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis
Alex Trebek on Jeopardy.Eric McCandless via Getty Images
In March 2019, Trebek first revealed to fans that he had beendiagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.
In a somber video message, the ABC game show host vowed to “fight” the disease and also continue working hostingJeopardy!while being treated for the disease.
“Now normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this and I’m going to keep working,” he said.
06of 07Alex Trebek Undergoes ChemotherapyAlex Trebek on Jeopardy.E. Charbonneau/WireImageJust half a year later, Trebek — who helpedJeopardy!earn 39Emmy Awards— hadcompletedhis chemotherapy treatments,and announced in a video to fans that he was “on the mend.““I’ve gone through a lot of chemotherapy, and thankfully that is now over,” he said at the time. “I’m on the mend and that’s all I can hope for right now.“The following month, he returned toJeopardy!for theshow’s 36th season. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our show,” he said in the episode.“I truly hope you folks have enjoyed revisiting some of our special tournaments throughout this past summer. But today,Jeopardy!begins its 36th season on the air and I’m happy to report, I’m still here,” said Trebek.He then announced in September 2019 that he had toundergo chemotherapy again.
06of 07
Alex Trebek Undergoes Chemotherapy
Alex Trebek on Jeopardy.E. Charbonneau/WireImage
Just half a year later, Trebek — who helpedJeopardy!earn 39Emmy Awards— hadcompletedhis chemotherapy treatments,and announced in a video to fans that he was “on the mend.”
“I’ve gone through a lot of chemotherapy, and thankfully that is now over,” he said at the time. “I’m on the mend and that’s all I can hope for right now.”
The following month, he returned toJeopardy!for theshow’s 36th season. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our show,” he said in the episode.
“I truly hope you folks have enjoyed revisiting some of our special tournaments throughout this past summer. But today,Jeopardy!begins its 36th season on the air and I’m happy to report, I’m still here,” said Trebek.
He then announced in September 2019 that he had toundergo chemotherapy again.
07of 07
Alex Trebek’s Final Days
Alex and Jean Trebek in 2019.Michael Kovac/Getty Images
In 2020, Trebek and Jean celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. The host told PEOPLE that July that he felt Jean kept him going amid his cancer diagnosis.
“She’s kept me alive,” hetold PEOPLE.
source: people.com
