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Alex Trebek, 'Jeopardy!' host, dead at 80

Alex Trebek
Posted at 10:50 AM, Nov 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-08 13:30:52-05

Alex Trebek, the calm and witty host of "Jeopardy!" since 1984, has died at the age of 80.

The game show shared the news of his passing Sunday morning.

"Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex," they wrote on social media.

In March 2019, Trebek announced he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He immediately started treatment, but made no plans to retire. In fact, he kept hosting and taping new episodes.

New episodes in the show's 37th season starting airing mid-September. At the time, Trebek said he was excited to get back to work and was feeling good.

“I believe we are the first quiz show to come back on the air in the COVID-19 era. On a personal level, I’m excited because it gets me out of the house. It gives me something to do on a regular basis, and I was missing that," Trebek said in September.