Alex Trebek’s Wife Shares How Crucial ‘Jeopardy!’ Was to Him Till the End

It’s been nearly four years since Alex Trebek passed away at the age of 80, having spent almost four decades as the beloved host of “Jeopardy!”. However, his memory will live on forever, quite literally.

In honor of what would have marked his 84th birthday on Monday, the United States Postal Service unveiled a forever stamp dedicated to the late game show host. Alongside a dedication ceremony held at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, the USPS released a special video segment featuring his wife Jean Trebek, “Jeopardy!” star Ken Jennings, and producer Sarah Whitcomb Foss sharing their cherished memories of the Emmy-winning television icon.

“Alex was so proud to be the host of ‘Jeopardy!’ He truly was. The show and he evolved together to become this iconic entity that blessed the world. It brought people together, healed them, and taught them how to speak English,” Jean Trebek said. “He was such a curious man, and here was a job that allowed him to sink his teeth into something expansive. He loved ‘Jeopardy!’ a lot, and I know working on the show was incredibly important to him, even towards the end of his life.”

Trebek passed away on November 8, 2020, due to pancreatic cancer. After some trial and error in finding a replacement, Ken Jennings, first introduced as a contestant, eventually took over the role of the host.

Jennings shared his own recollections, saying, “I remember it almost felt like a special effect because I had been watching him on screen for 20 years, and then suddenly, there he was in person. ‘Jeopardy!’ was always my favorite show growing up. I would rush home after school every day to watch. For kids like me, Alex Trebek was a symbol of knowledge and authority.”

“I saw Alex a few times after his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, and I once visited him backstage while he was still hosting, despite not feeling great every day. He had just received an outpouring of love from fans—tens of thousands of notes and emails. He was delighted. I don’t think he realized the impact he had on us,” Jennings continued. “He said, ‘Ken, most people don’t get to hear all the nice things about them until their funeral. I’m here to hear all the nice things.’ I thought, what a lovely way to look at a terrible stroke of luck. He was truly one of a kind.”

The behind-the-scenes crew at the syndicated trivia show echoed similar sentiments about Trebek.

“Alex Trebek hosted ‘Jeopardy!’ for nearly four decades, and during that time, many people got to know him and the show. It became a shared family experience and a part of American culture. He was our ultimate father figure,” Whitcomb Foss said. “Alex liked to be very prepared. He was a morning person, frequently arriving at the ‘Jeopardy!’ library between 6 and 6:30 in the morning to review all the games. He wanted to ensure he was familiar with every clue, making sure it was a good one to ask the contestants. We got to see all the best sides of him—the goofy, the funny, the intelligent, and the serious sides.”

“Alex always said his favorite part about hosting ‘Jeopardy!’ was the time he spent onstage with three brilliant people for half an hour each day,” she concluded. “He loved a curious mind and appreciated it, just as we all loved learning alongside him. We couldn’t have had a better teacher.”

Michael Elston, secretary of the USPS Board of Governors, offered an outside perspective in the tribute video. “As the host of ‘Jeopardy!,’ Alex Trebek set a world record by hosting more than 8,200 episodes over 37 years. He became a beloved, trusted presence in millions of homes each weekday and won eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host, a lifetime achievement Emmy, and many other accolades,” Elston said.

Trebek’s commemorative stamp reads: “This naturalized U.S. citizen hosted the quiz show ‘Jeopardy!’ for 37 seasons.” It is now available for purchase.

Source: TheWrap