Over the years, longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek became part of the family for millions of Americans.
“He’s been a part of so many of our lives. Who else have we welcomed into our homes every night,” said former contestant Stephanie Jass.
Trebek was born in Sudbury, Ontario. He went to college at the University of Ottawa and was only 26 years old when he hosted the Canadian quiz show “Reach For The Top.” In the 1970s, he hosted a handful of game shows that came and went. It was 1984 when he started a new job that would last for nearly 37 years.
READ: Alex Trebek’s final JEOPARDY! episodes air this week
READ: Trebek urges support for COVID-19 victims in 1 of last shows
He was nominated for an Emmy Award 32 times.
He won seven Daytime Emmys for outstanding game host, most recently, this past spring, when he told the audience he was concerned that his win might be a result of sympathy for battle with cancer. It was a poignant moment, which in keeping with his personality, he met head-on with humor.
The rules of “Jeopardy!” never allowed Trebek to mingle with contestants. But he had the personality that left former contestants feeling they had made a new friend.
“I grew up watching him, watching the show. It’s a big part of my life,” said former contestant Armen Trejimanian. “When Alex got sick, when he got diagnosed, it was like a family member getting sick. It was a gut punch for me.”
You can watch the full report in the video above.
READ MORE: