- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGeorge Alexander Trebek
- Height1.79 m
- Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Alex Trebek graduated from the University of Ottawa with a degree in Philosophy. After his first decision to become a newscaster, he joined the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company), Canada's premier network in 1961. As he was working, he helped organize national news and covered a variety of special events for CBC's radio and television divisions, receiving high praise as a broadcaster who retained his poise and composure in the toughest places. Then, in 1966, he became a Canadian game show host on Reach for the Top (1965), and stayed there for the first seven years until he migrated to the United States to host his very first game show in that country, The Wizard of Odds (1973), for NBC.
Prior to being selected as the host of Jeopardy! (1984), for syndication, he came back to NBC and hosted the revamped version of Classic Concentration (1987), which was also his second hit in his then-almost 30 year career. On this show, he received 4 Emmy nominations, but didn't win. It was canceled in 1991, when the network stopped making game show for daytime TV.
On May 17, 2002, Jeopardy! (1984) celebrated a milestone, with its 4000th episode and at the same time, received another Daytime Emmy for "Outstanding Game Show/Audience Participation," making it its 21st Emmy. Like Bob Barker, Alex Trebek broke the world record as host of TV's #1 quiz show in the country, won seven Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy Awards, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was often described as one of the Top 10 Canadians on U.S. Television. Trebek passed away, after a long battle against pancreatic cancer on November 8, 2020, at age 80.- IMDb mini biography by: Gary Richard Collins II (hugsarealwaysinorder@yahoo.com)
- SpousesJean Trebek(April 30, 1990 - November 8, 2020) (his death, 2 children)Elaine Kares Trebek(September 25, 1974 - May 13, 1982) (divorced)
- Children
- ParentsLucille Trebek (Lagacé)George Edward Trebek
- Moustache (until 2001)
- His glasses
- Calm, reasonable voice.
- It was Trebek's idea to include separate competitions for teenagers, seniors, and celebrities on Jeopardy! (1984).
- Became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1998.
- In 2001, Trebek shaved his mustache during the first few weeks of the 18th season of Jeopardy! (1984). He had the mustache for over 30 years.
- Broke his leg on July 27, 2011 as he was chasing a female burglar who had broken into his San Francisco hotel room. Suspect was later apprehended by police.
- When he married Jean Trebek (Jean Currivan), at the ceremony he gave his wedding vow as a joke on the Jeopardy! (1984) rule of phrasing an answer as a question by saying, "The answer is ... yes".
- We are trying to entertain the audience. We happen to do it by enlightening and educating them. [January 10, 1988]
- "I have learned quite a bit, but it's not like you know enough about the topics to lead a discussion at a cocktail party." - On the question if hosting the show has expanded his knowledge.
- [When asked if he missed Bob Barker's final show in 2007]: I was doing some electrical work in an attic today.
- We're trying to build a gentler, kinder society and if we all pitch in just a little bit, we'll get there.
- [When asked if he had owned a single collection from the Jeopardy! (1984) set]: No. I don't take things from shows I've worked on. I'm not a souvenir hound, if you will. Years ago I made comments that I collected baseball caps. So people would send me baseball caps from all over the world. I had the most outlandish baseball caps. One cap had a little oil derrick on it from oil country. Or 'I survived Spacelab.'
- Jeopardy! (1984) - $10,000,000 per year
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