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IMDbPro

Alex Trebek(1940-2020)

  • Producer
  • Actor
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Alex Trebek at an event for The 32nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (2005)
The Magic School Bus: Shows And Tells
Play trailer1:05
Shows and Tells (1996)
2 Videos
48 Photos
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.
BornJuly 22, 1940
DiedNovember 8, 2020(80)
BornJuly 22, 1940
DiedNovember 8, 2020(80)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 18 wins & 37 nominations total

Photos48

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Known for

Jeopardy! (1984)
Jeopardy!
8.3
TV Series
  • Producer
Ryan Reynolds, Taika Waititi, Dwayne Johnson, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Lil Rel Howery, Jodie Comer, Owen Burke, and Joe Keery in Free Guy (2021)
Free Guy
7.1
  • Alex Trebek
  • 2021
Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu in Charlie's Angels (2000)
Charlie's Angels
5.6
  • Alex Trebek
  • 2000
Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List (2007)
The Bucket List
7.3
  • Alex Trebek
  • 2007

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Producer



  • Veil (2019)
    Veil
    Short
    • executive producer
    • 2019
  • Eyes of Faith (2018)
    Eyes of Faith
    • executive producer
    • 2018
  • Alex Trebek in Game Changers (2018)
    Game Changers
    6.8
    TV Movie
    • executive producer
    • 2018
  • Jeopardy! (1984)
    Jeopardy!
    8.3
    TV Series
    • producer
    • 1984–1987

Actor



  • Ryan Reynolds, Taika Waititi, Dwayne Johnson, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Lil Rel Howery, Jodie Comer, Owen Burke, and Joe Keery in Free Guy (2021)
    Free Guy
    7.1
    • Alex Trebek
    • 2021
  • The Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellows Show
    Video
    • (voice)
    • 2020
  • Who framed Wrangler (2017)
    Who framed Wrangler
    TV Mini Series
    • Alex Trebek
    • 2017–2019
  • Robert Forster, Greg Kinnear, Luke Wilson, Jay Duplass, Kurt Fuller, Emily Mortimer, Bradley Whitford, and Taylor Schilling in Phil (2019)
    Phil
    5.4
    • Alex Trebek
    • 2019
  • Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018)
    Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
    8.0
    TV Series
    • TV Host (uncredited)
    • 2018
  • Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Selenis Leyva, Laura Prepon, Taylor Schilling, Uzo Aduba, Dascha Polanco, and Danielle Brooks in Orange Is the New Black (2013)
    Orange Is the New Black
    8.0
    TV Series
    • Alex Trebek
    • 2018
  • Thomas Haden Church, Debra Messing, Nadia Dajani, and Greg Germann in Ned and Stacey (1995)
    Ned and Stacey
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Alex Trebek
    • 1997–2017
  • Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick, and Betty White in Hot in Cleveland (2010)
    Hot in Cleveland
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Narrator
    • 2014
  • Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segel, Josh Radnor, and Cobie Smulders in How I Met Your Mother (2005)
    How I Met Your Mother
    8.3
    TV Series
    • Alex Trebek
    • 2010–2013
  • Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)
    The Simpsons
    8.6
    TV Series
    • Alex Trebek (voice)
    • 1997–2012
  • Jeopardy! (2010)
    Jeopardy!
    5.4
    Video Game
    • Alex Trebek - Host
    • 2010
  • FCU: Fact Checkers Unit (2010)
    FCU: Fact Checkers Unit
    6.6
    TV Series
    • Alex
    • 2010
  • Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List (2007)
    The Bucket List
    7.3
    • Alex Trebek
    • 2007
  • Jeopardy! DVD Game (2007)
    Jeopardy! DVD Game
    Video Game
    • Alex Trebek - Host
    • 2007
  • Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Alex Borstein, and Seth MacFarlane in Family Guy (1999)
    Family Guy
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Alex Trebek (voice)
    • 2006

Additional Crew



  • JEP! (1998)
    JEP!
    4.8
    TV Series
    • consultant
    • 1998–2000

Videos2

Trailer - Ken Jennings Original Run Last Game Promo
Trailer 0:15
Trailer - Ken Jennings Original Run Last Game Promo
The Magic School Bus: Shows And Tells
Trailer 1:05
The Magic School Bus: Shows And Tells
The Magic School Bus: Shows And Tells
Trailer 1:05
The Magic School Bus: Shows And Tells

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Alex
  • Height
    • 5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
  • Born
    • July 22, 1940
    • Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
  • Died
    • November 8, 2020
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(pancreatic cancer)
  • Spouses
      Jean TrebekApril 30, 1990 - November 8, 2020 (his death, 2 children)
  • Children
      Emily Trebek
  • Parents
      Lucille Trebek (Lagacé)
  • Other works
    Print ad: the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board (Milk Moustache)
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Print Biographies
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 5 Interviews
    • 20 Articles
    • 6 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    It was Trebek's idea to include separate competitions for teenagers, seniors, and celebrities on Jeopardy! (1984).
  • Quotes
    We are trying to entertain the audience. We happen to do it by enlightening and educating them. [January 10, 1988]
  • Trademarks
      Moustache (until 2001)
  • Salary
    • Jeopardy!
      (1984)
      $10,000,000 per year

FAQ14

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