In a world full of uncertainty and chaos, calm reigns in simple anecdotes and facts.
It has always been one of the Dangerthe main selling points. For 37 years, viewers have also been able to find solace in the knowledge that Alex Trebek – the man who has become synonymous with the No.1 Ranked Quiz – always stood behind the podium with his index cards and unfazed sound.
Tonight, Trebek fans will see his last show. Trebek died in November after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2018. After the diagnosis, Trebek, who was very public on his fight against the disease, continued to host the show for a year and a half. He finished filming on October 29, 2019; no one knew then that it would be his last day in the studio.
Danger has yet to name a permanent replacement for Trebek, but next week guest hosts of what the show calls “in the Danger family ”will take over. The show’s executive producer Mike Richards said Trebek believes in the importance of Danger and “always said he wanted the show to continue after him.”
Trebek died at the age of 80 on November 8, 2020, after battling pancreatic cancer. Here, people stop in front of a makeshift memorial on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
Mario Anzuoni – Reuters
While studying at university in his native Canada, Trebek needed money to pay his tuition fees and got a job with the CBC, which gave him a welcome gig after he graduated. It moved to the United States, hosting shows such as “High Rollers” in 1975 (left) and “Classic Concentration” in 1988 (right).
NBCU / NBCUniversal Photo Bank via Getty Images via Getty Images
Trebek began hosting Jeopardy in 1984, chairing every episode since then except April Fool’s Day in 1997, when he swapped with the “Wheel of Fortune” host.
PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo
Trebek made an appearance in a 1990 episode of “Cheers” in which Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger, right) appears as a contender on Jeopardy! , only to blow up a huge lead by missing the last question – a move that has come to be known as “Pulling a Cliff Clavin”.
Kim Gottlieb-Walker – NBCU Photo Bank
Trebek appeared on a 2002 episode of “Saturday Night Live” to sympathize with celebrity guests’ ignorance with comedian Will Ferrell, who had emulated Trebek on the show for years.
Mary Ellen Matthews – NBCU / NBCUniversal / Getty Images Photo Bank
Trebek has directed more than 8,200 episodes of Jeopardy – a Guinness World Record for hosting the most episodes of a single game show – and won seven Daytime Emmys.
E. Charbonneau – WireImage for Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
Trebek with Jeopardy champion Ken Jennings, who has won a record 74 straight games. Jennings will be the show’s first interim host starting next week.
Eric McCandless – ABC via Getty Images
In 2017, Trebek, who was born in Ontario, was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, the second highest civilian honor in the country. Seen here in 2016 with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Sean Kilpatrick – The Canadian Press via AP
Flowers remained on Trebek’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame following news of his death on November 8. Trebek is one of the few celebrities to have a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Canadian Walk of Fame.
