Alex Trebek Dead: ‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Mourn Legendary Host

Sunday afternoon, Jeopardy!’s Twitter account confirmed that longtime host Alex Trebek had passed away at 80. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer. He had faced the disease since March 2019 but continued to host Jeopardy! the entire time. He also provided regular updates about his chemotherapy and other treatments.

With the news on Sunday, fans on Twitter immediately began mourning the legendary game show host. They posted several messages talking about how 2020 is the “worst year ever” and said that the world would never be the same. Others began reminiscing about their childhoods and how Trebek impacted their lives. Some said that they were forced to watch the game show by elderly relatives and grew to love it due to Trebek’s hosting ability and charisma. The tributes continued on Sunday as more people heard the heartbreaking news.

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There were several people on Twitter Sunday afternoon that were only able to react with shock after hearing that Trebek passed away. They knew that he had cancer, but they still were not quite prepared for the news that he was no longer alive. They could only react with very short and heartfelt messages. Despite only having the ability to write one or two words in the immediate aftermath of his death, the fans still took time to mention that Trebek was a beloved figure.

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The year 2020 has been full of stunning deaths, but the past week featured two that caught fans by surprise. Sean Conner died at the age of 90 after spending his post-acting life in the Bahamas. Days later, Trebek also passed away after facing pancreatic cancer. People on Twitter reacted to the two deaths and said that they can’t handle anything more in 2020.

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“I think Alex Trebek’s death will hit people (myself included) very hard, especially if you were a frequent Jeopardy! viewer. It was someone you saw every single day, someone whose voice you instantly recognized. Alex Trebek was a part of my life and I’m so sad he’s gone,” one Jeopardy! fan tweeted on Sunday afternoon. Many others joined in and talked about how Trebek made a major impact on their lives. 

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“OH NO. Rest in peace to the all-time great,” TV host Rich Eisen tweeted on Sunday afternoon. He was one of the many people posting tributes to Trebek after hearing about the host’s death. There were several people that expressed the opinion that no one could touch Trebek in terms of greatness. Some people came close, but the Jeopardy! host sat alone at the top of the TV hosting mountain. 

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“RIP to the man who singlehandedly created a demilitarized zone between Gen X kids and their dads,” comedian Christian Finnegan wrote. There were several people on social media Sunday talking about how they initially disliked Jeopardy!. However, they quickly grew to adore the show thanks to Trebek. 

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“The only friend I saw everyday,” one person wrote in a tribute on Sunday. Several people referred to Trebek as a long-lost family member that they hoped to see every Thanksgiving. Others talked about how the host was a true friend even though he only talked to citizens of the country through TV screens.

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“Was watching one of the latest episodes, and saw this right as the episode ended. He was up there hosting to the very end, sharp as a tack and witty as ever. RIP to a legend & fixture of television,” tweeted one Trebek fan on Sunday. The longtime host was a mainstay on TV even while facing cancer. His presence led many to believe that he would continue hosting Jeopardy! for years to come.