One of television’s favorite trivia hosts, Alex Trebek, entered the hearts of families everywhere when he graced our screens for the first time in September 1984. The Canadian-born American television personality has since created a legacy for himself that granted him civilian and celebratory high honors. In his memoir The Answer Is . . . : Reflections on My Life, Trebek provides a personal account of his life as a TV host, his close relationships and experiences with marriage, parenthood, success, etc.
After his passing in 2020 due to pancreatic cancer, Jeopardy! fans joined together to honor his 36 years of hosting by sharing their favorite moments. They recently rejoiced over the news that the studio, once his second home, was renamed in honor of the late host. His perfect delivery of answers and questions will never be forgotten, especially on his birthday.
What Is … The Life of America’s Favorite Game Show Host
Alex Trebek, also known as George Alexander Trebek, was born on July 22, 1940, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of a French Canadian mother and a Ukrainian immigrant father. Trebek attended the University of Ottawa to study Philosophy. He worked part-time at Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio to help pay his tuition.
Upon graduating in 1961, he worked as a staff announcer at the CBC, reporting on news, weather, and sports on regional radio and television. After transferring to Toronto to work as a national staffer, Trebek dipped his toe into the world of hosting with a live teen music show called Music Hop and soon a popular teen quiz show, Reach for the Top. He developed impeccable delivery and improv skills early in his career, so it should be no surprise that game shows were his next endeavor.
After meeting with Canadian Alan Thicke, Trebek found himself in the United States in 1973 as the host of the NBC game show The Wizard of Odds from 1973 to 1974. Although the stint was short-lived, it led him to some great opportunities working on game shows like CBS’s Double Dare and The $128,000 Question and NBC’s The New High Rollers. As they say, when one door closes, another one opens. The next door just happened to remain open for 37 seasons. Alex Trebek became the host for Jeopardy! in 1984, and the rest was history. His unique sense of humor and charisma delighted the homes of millions of people and led him to a lifelong career as America’s favorite TV game show host.
Who is … Alex Trebek?
Four months before his passing, Alex Trebek published his coveted memoir, The Answer Is . . . : Reflections on My Life, where he describes the life story of the man millions knew on screen but never off. Although always against the idea of writing a book about his life, Trebek was inspired by the outpouring of love and goodwill from fans he felt compelled to share. His publisher, Simon & Schuster, released this synopsis:
“… The book combines illuminating personal anecdotes with Trebek’s thoughts on a range of topics, including marriage, parenthood, education, success, spirituality, and philanthropy. Trebek also addresses the questions he gets asked most often by Jeopardy! fans, such as what prompted him to shave his signature mustache, his insights on legendary players like Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer, and his opinion of Will Ferrell’s Saturday Night Live impersonation. The book uses a novel structure inspired by Jeopardy!, with each chapter title in the form of a question, and features dozens of never-before-seen photos that candidly capture Trebek over the years.
This wise, charming, and inspiring book is further evidence why Trebek has long been considered one of the most beloved and respected figures in entertainment.”
Kindness Is The Greatest Reward
While undergoing treatment, he inspired millions of people as he continued to host Jeopardy up to his last days. After battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Trebek passed away on November 8, 2020, peacefully at home, surrounded by his family and friends. One of the best ways I can think of describing or remembering someone is by their own words. This quote sums up the kind of man he was and how he captured the hearts of so many.
It’s far easier to be nice to people than to be mean, with far greater rewards.
Alex Trebek
The Final Jeopardy! Category Is … Legacy!
Besides winning the hearts of millions of viewers, Trebek has been honored with some of the most well-respected awards. However, I would argue that the best reward was being able to give back to so many communities. One of the most recognized titles he held might be the Guinness World Record for the “most game show episodes hosted by the same presenter.”
As a famous University of Ottawa alumni, he also created scholarships, sponsored a Lecture Series, and helped construct the Alumni Hall. Eventually, the University named the hall in his honor. Following his contributions, Trebek received a Peabody Award in 2011 and was named a member of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2013. Soon after, he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcasting Hall of Fame with Jeopardy! in 2018. His accolades did not stop there, as these were only the beginning.
His native country of Canada named him an officer of the Order of Canada in 2017, considered the second-highest civilian honor. He had also conferred an honorary doctorate and received the Meritas Tabaret Award for Alumni Achievement, the top award from his university. In June 2021, Trebek received his eighth Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host and accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Humanitarian Efforts
Although his high honors were great recognition for his work, Trebek made many efforts to give back. He was a long-time supporter of World Vision, a humanitarian aid organization, and often donated to the non-profit The Doe Fund.
In addition, he traveled to many third-world countries with World Vision to help communities obtain sustainable access to life essentials. Trebek often donated his wardrobe and funds to The Doe Fund, which aimed to help end homelessness, economic injustice, and recidivism. In 2020, Trebek and his wife, Jean, also donated to Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission in the San Fernando Valley, which helped to establish a transitional living facility for the homeless population. There’s nothing more rewarding in life than being able to help each other and spread kindness with every new experience. Alex Trebek knew a thing or two about it, considering he spent most of his life doing just that.
The Best Birthday Gift
In honor of our favorite TV-game show host’s birthday, we hope you find yourself reading his memoir The Answer Is . . . : Reflections on My Life or watching one of your favorite episodes of Jeopardy! On one of his final days, Trebek said, “We’re trying to build a gentler, kinder society. And if we all pitch in just a little bit … we’re gonna get there.” Even in the most insufferable pain, Trebek reminded us to be kind, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate his life than spreading more of it to everyone we meet.
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