"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek on his cancer diagnosis
For 35 years Alex Trebek has hosted nearly 8,000 episodes of the game show "Jeopardy!" and won six Emmy Awards. And while contestant James Holzhauer's record-setting streak has been making headlines of late, the biggest news from the show has been Trebek's fight against pancreatic cancer. He talked with Jane Pauley about his chemotherapy, the crippling pain, and his determination not to miss a day of work.
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"Why are you making me laugh?" "What else are we going to do?" Damn straight Alex. Damn straight.
I like how his (correct) answer was also in the form of a question. Just like Jepoardy
That's real wisdom. I love this guy.
Life is short and precious. Laughter is an important part of life.
@@nicktheavatar_ I didn't even catch that, and I don't think that was deliberate. I saw a different clip (at the Emmys, I think), where a reporter joked about doing interviews in the Jeopardy format, and Alex said, no, that's a very difficult interview. And then he said that interviewers who try it "die after a few minutes" (or maybe it was the interview "dies") - but either way, I couldn't believe he used that word jokingly.
His wife, Jean, is part of this new positivity web site called Inside Wink. She has written about getting better at expressing her emotions...he hasn't seemed to have any trouble with admitting to things like pain and depression.
Alex Trebek - a truly class act.
KAY COX When you say "Class Act", do you mean you also suspect that this is Kevin Spacey.
Thuto Manning ?
Great comment. He truly is a class act.
“Stage One, for sissies.” My new favorite Alex Trebek quote.
Answer: A class act. Question: Who is Alex Trebek?
Answer: He's the person who's ruining Jeopardy. Question: Who is James Holzhauer?
In MY opinion, it'd be like THIS: ANSWER: The BEST game show host QUESTION: Who is Alex Trebek?
Rip Alex
LAtvFan Outstanding. Nothing further needs to be said.
@@I_WANT_MY_SLAW Holzhauer is doing wonders for the ratings. I am rooting for him every day. I think most of America really wants to see how far he can go.
Even with cancer, I can’t believe he’s 78. This man looks like he’s in at most his 60’s. He’s such a beautiful soul. God, please keep Alex with us as long as you can.
he's looks fantastic for 78 years old. i believe in him fighting this. Go alex!
Alex "Macho Man" Trebek, our hearts are with you through this fight.
OOOOOOOH YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!
True, but I'm not sure I understand this mindset. Well, he kept working right up until the end. So what??? He's 78 and has worked on the show for 30 something years. Isn't the MORE IMPORTANT thing to be with family and loved ones now??? Shouldn't that be the number one priority over working or making money?
Jennifer lawrence it's not about money I'm sure. It's a part of who he is & people love him through Jeopardy that aren't family. You can see he has both & time to dig & fix things around his home. He's well-rounded & if he loves it then yes he should do it as long as he wants 😊
@@jenniferlawrence9473 I can understand why, in the "Age of the Millennial", the possibility that anyone values honor, integrity, and living up to their commitments is a bewildering concept. But here is the reality: To a (an admittedly dwindling) number of people, keeping one's word and meeting one's commitments is actually important, and their professions are about much more than merely "making money" (which despite the tone in which it was uttered above, is not evil in itself, either...). In actuality, we are (rapidly) declining as a society here in the US because of the loss of a work ethic by myopic, highly indoctrinated, self-absorbed "professional victims". The bottom line is that we need (many) more like him in society...versus those who simply scoff at or denigrate any success that isn't Government subsidized. He's a classy, hard-working guy who represents much of what was/is good and valuable in society, and I for one, am pulling for his recovery.
ColoMilGuy Well said.
Adore him. He’s absolutely wonderful and a gem!
JUST out of curiosity, WHY wouldn't he be?
I could not tell that he was wearing a hairpiece. He still looks great!
Hair or no hair....Alex Trebek is Loved and admired by millions! A great example of Hope and Dignity!
I agree, he needs to get advice from people who beat that terrible disease.
Thursday I too learned I have cancer. 5-23-19 And no operation or Kemo can be done. My prayers are with you Alex. I have enjoyed your show down through the years. At 71 I am a long time fan. An once in a while I get a few answers right !!
Betty Ann McKinney Praying for you. Love and light to you.
(hug)
Rest in peace, Alex. You were and always will be our Jeopardy champion.
By the way, he was cemented. His aches were given to his beautiful wife. His wife said his remains will be kept in a urn in the family’s home.
@@socrates5135no more you pal
@@socrates5135 Awwww
Absolutely devastated by his diagnosis! He was a huge part of our family for 35 years
JEOPARDY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME...💔 ✨REST IN PEACE TO THIS PRECIOUS MAN✨
Go, Alex, GO! You look wonderful...and I tune in every night to CHEER YOU ON!
it’s crazy.. the first host of Jeopardy, Art Fleming, had pancreatic cancer as well.. we love you Alex, please get well!! 💗
We, your audience, love you and pray for your return to good health.
Amen! I'm SURE this can HAPPEN if we DREAM for Alex Trebek's HEALTH to IMPROVE over time!
He appears to be a kind person who loves life and family.
Alex Trebek is a National Treasure.
International treasure.
jawharp that’s right he is Canadian correct?
A CANADIAN one! LOL!
A CANADIAN National Treasure. America doesnt deserve him
@@adamarens3520 Correct...although he is a naturalized American citizen. I guess he can be considered a national treasure by 2 different countries lol.
Life is full of ups and downs but this is a real punch that teaches me to realize how I can be better with my ups and downs. God bless you Alex!
Alex so many loving messages all for you!
Clue: 'The bravest man alive today.' Correct response: 'Who is Alex Trebek?'
Sending prayer that he will live painless and live to 95 years. May God send Miracles from heaven.
Not gonna happen. Few weeks left if lucky.
Ze Bunker :( bout to cry after reading this.
Hopefully even longer
@@zJqshxa Patrick Swayze lived nearly two years with the disease. As long as food and drink aren't painful, and he can generally keep things down, he will last a little while.
Not happening.
We need an autobiography of Alex, with the audiobook narrated by him because his voice is heavenly
Amen
Sadly, we won't get that.....😢
We at least got that book of reflections he wrote this past year, even partially through the pandemic. I'm about halfway through it and loving it.
I could not tell that he was wearing a hairpiece. He still looks great!
Sometimes, it can be HARD to tell if one's hair is NATURAL, or if it's a HAIRPIECE of some kind.
In this case, it was pretty easy to tell unless of course, you happen to be Ray Charles. In which case you have 2 major obstacles to overcome One : You're blind. Two: You're a CORPSE .
I don't think I would have realized it if he hadn't been so open about it.
@@manofiske3318 poor taste
3:17 "Why are you making my laugh about it" "What else are we gonna do?"
I love quoting that - and it says so much about Alex - but quoting the exchange leading up to that - the actual joke he made about stage 1 vs stage 4 - feels more awkward because other people battling the same thing could take it the wrong way.
Prayers for Mr. Trebek and his family.
I cried when watching the news interview with Alex Trebek. I'm a 57 year young lady who has been watching him from his first day doing the Jeopardy game show. Please tell his wife and kids I'm praying for ALL OF THEM!! Thanks again, Catlady Redd here in Muncie Indiana.
Renay Dominguez we need more people like this. Thank you. As an 11 year old, I can attest. Not necessarily to the part where you said that you were watching him since the beginning, but the prayer. I started watching Jeopardy! At 2 years old. I pray for Alex and his family.
you are probably near my age cracked, I watched jeopardy starting at age 10, well that is how old I was in 1984.
Even in facing death, Alex Trebek has managed to keep a straight face. The same straight face he gives to you when he delivers the trivia and you must give the answer in the form of a question... The answer, What is Courage Mr. Trebek ???
I even saw an interview he did, after the Emmys, where they joked about whether the interviewers should do the answer / question Jeopardy format with the interview, and Alex said something like, "That never goes well. They die after a few minutes." I couldn't believe he could use that word facetiously.
HERE'S something I'll THROW in here, just so you can KNOW a bit MORE about me: ANSWER: The Incredible Shrinking Woman QUESTION: What is David Konen's most FAVORITE movie?
Let's hope that he lives longer, Dirk Benedict beat stage 4 cancer
@@Frstyle25 yes, but Alex had stage 4 PANCREATIC cancer....and sadly, there is currently no cure, and the survival rate of this type of cancer is extremely low, as sadly was the case for the #JeopardyKing, as well as for the #DirtyDancing superstar Patrick Swayze.
And I said, “Ohh...I cursed a little.” What a guy. 😄
If that's a wig, it's perfection!!!God Bless him!
It’s a wig. They do amazing hairpieces specially for Hollywood stars etc.
I know lol lol lol
You should know that mr Maltin Famous movie buff on entertainment tonight lol
Makes you want to run fingers through that hair/ toupee.
@@cittaromap4163 Except for William Shatner and Burt Reynolds. :--(
We were watching one of the latest shows with James Holzhauer, right before the Teacher Tournament began,and I told my husband, "Alex is in pain right now." We know the shows are taped way in advance, and we have no idea when these were taped. Still...we stopped the show for a few minutes, to pray for Alex. We do know that he's still alive, so we knew that we weren't going to miss a good reminder to keep on praying for him. Thank you for a very good interview.
I pray for him too, I agree
Dirk Benedict survived stage 4 cancer
@@Frstyle25 Was it pancreatic? I do know survivors of pancreatic cancer, but it's pretty rare. That doesn't matter with God, though. Amen?
I was surprised by how quickly Alex wrapped everything up when James lost - it was just "we're saying goodbye to James." Usually when a big champ loses, there's a little more dialogue than that. Made me wonder if Alex was needing to wrap the taping up quickly due to not feeling well. James has said he found out about Alex's diagnosis minutes before one of his games - but it probably wasn't that last one, since his daughter still had time to make that get well card, which Alex showed off at what turned out to be James' last game. So, they must have known before that game.
Your such a good man Alex. You are strong and have such a good heart.
You are so sexy
Praying that Alex recover and beat cancer. He is my favorite tv show game host and inspired me to read more over 30 years ago.
He wont.
@@zebunker Not so fast, buddy. You or I could check out long before Mr. Trebek. Don't play God.
@@travelseatsyellowlab Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer has a 5% survival rate. He'd be extremely lucky to beat it.
@@TheBrydy123 Please show me where I said he would beat it. Thanks!
Spot ON! I'm thinking about VOLUNTEERING to DO this with EITHER young kids OR senior citizens.
If that's a hair piece I'm getting one for my balding head because it looks AWESOME. Stay strong my brother!
If he hadn't said anything, I'm sure most of us would have been fooled into thinking it was his real hair. I don't say that to disparage the intelligence or observation of anyone here - I'm just saying it's not obvious.
Grew up watching this guy every week night.. Feels like family.. Hope he gets through this..
Me too:( he feels like a grandpa to me!
8 months ago I lost my mom. I remember when her hair started falling out. She asked me to shave it off and I took great honor in that task. It was very difficult for her but she never looked more beautiful in my eyes. I know it must be hard for you too Alex but you look amazing! I'll continue to pray for you! ❤
Sarah I’m sorry for the loss of your mom, I lost my mom in 2005 I was 28yrs old I miss her everyday. I hope you find peace and remember her how she lived.
@@joshuahill1137 that is so sweet of you to say. Thank you so much for your kind words. The anniversary is actually a few days away. This message couldn't have come at a better time. Thank you again. I wish the same for you as well and I'm sorry about your mom too.
It's only been a week and we miss him already. It's unbelievable that he taped episodes all the way up until a week and a half before he passed. And his last episode will air on Christmas Day. :( RIP George Alexander Trebek
Alex Trebek looks great for a man who's 78 years old.
I'm sure he's trying to squeak out at least 80 years.
well he said he has to because he has to finish his 3 year contract so he said he didn't have a choice.
I really expected that to change as he went through treatment (even though I know that's the least of things to be worried about with this), but no, he still looks good.
One truly inspiring human being!!
Alex Trebek, I just don't want to imagine a world without you in it. Sending you love, prayers, and deep gratitude for all you've done.
It's funny. I made it to his last comment before I lost it. He's an international treasure. Long may he bless us.
Bless you Mr. Alex Trebek. I know that pain, I don’t know it by feeling it, I can relate by watching my 31 year old husband go through it. God bless you Mr. Alex.
Cancer is very frightening, I know, I had kidney cancer, luckily it was contained to one kidney and did not spread. Until the operation I thought a lot about my mortality, the future, my soul etc. I only lost the one kidney. Thank the Lord, doctors, my wife and family. Dodged that bullet. Live every day like it is your last, laugh, love, forgive, help your fellow man....
Well said sir. Forgive and serve. Hope you continue to be well.
My mom had kidney cancer as well it's been like 3 or 4 years now she is doing amazing she had her kidney removed and no chemo or radiation
@@Kyrie2186 Ensure that your mom gets routine scans. My grandmother had a kidney cancer in 2003, in which the affected one kidney that was removed. No detected spread was found at the time, staged at zero. In 2017, the renal cells were discovered during a routine check-up in her lungs, pancreas, a stage four diagnosis.
mark allen funny how when you’re told you have a terminal disease, everything else goes by the wayside
If ANYTHING, I'm likely to get 2 KINDS of cancer: Brain Cancer (which my MOTHER had) and Skin Cancer
Who else is watching this after he died
Me.
What a brave man. I have so much appreciation for him
He is so cool. I look up to Alex. I wish you all the best.
I love Alex Trebek, I've been keeping him in my thoughts and prayers, ever since the announcement. I've been watching Jeopardy for years and it's hard to imagine a world where he's not hosting it.
Alex, I have been a fan of yours for years. I started watching Jeopardy one day in 2012. My relationship fell apart, and I know it sounds strange, but it was something small to look forward to every day during a chaotic time when I needed something to hold on to. Then, I got my parents into it. They still record it and watch it every day, almost, and they make sure that all episodes will be recorded any time they are away on vacation or anything. When I visit, we still eat dinner while watching Jeopardy. Thank you, you have created so many memories for our family, we even have so many inside jokes related to the show, the contestants, and some of the funny or peculiarly-written questions/ answers ("Fine, I guess the answer is Canada!"). We were rolling on the floor laughing because James Holzhauer made these wagers that were birthdays and my dad would always say a random number before he made his wager to see if he could come close to guessing what he would wager, and one time, HE WAS SPOT ON!! Lmfao, he just said, "$11,914" before James said the same number. XD It's also nice to see such a classy guy in this day and age when there's so much ugliness going on. We wish you the best of luck and know that you are such a huge part of our lives and our laughter! You're the best!
There is no gameshow I love more than Jeopardy. Alex was what made the show, too. He had a few bumps where I just looked at him and said "did he really just say that?" But he was incredible. Poise, professional, and up front. I don't know what else to say to describe him. He was just honest but upright. I love him.
This makes my heart happy and so incredibly sad at the same time. What a phenomenal man!
What a brave, incredible man! Everyone pray for him!
Who epitomizes the word courage? Who is Alex Trebek ! I've never seen anyone handle what he's going thru like he has. God bless you Alex
We love you Alex, God bless you.
My goodness what an amazing man! My prayers are with you Alex!!! We all know and believe you will fight this beast and WIN!!
Thanks for the 5 seconds Moment of Nature, The best part of the show.
I hope he can beat it. We're all rooting for you Alex ❤️
Don’t Root ..Pray for Jesus to heal him and be saved from your sins to live in perfect health throughout eternity
@@eviesmail5447 I get the sentiment and I respect every but of it, but you probably already figured I'm a Muslim. I'll pray for him, but I hope I was able to convey the message to you without being disrespectful.
GOD BLESS YOU ALEX, AND WE ALL ARE HERE FOR YOU!!!!
Alex is going through kemo and still working, I can't even go to bed at a reasonable time at night and wake up before lunch time
Lol.
Answer: This popular Jeopardy game show host will beat cancer. Question: Who is Alex Trebek. Many thoughts and prayers from one cancer patient to another.
@James Hess, it breaks my heart to regretfully inform you, that although that was the popularly desirable response, it is unfortunately incorrect.....the cancer beat him
He is an amazing man. A class act.
I love Alex Trebek, I watch Jeopardy for yrs, I watch the show because I love to here him talk/laugh, Merv Griffin picked a real good one when he chose Alex.
_"Thank you, Alex."_ - Ken Jennings
Inspiring that he’s able to keep his delightful demeanor through these tough times.
Damn-Talk about WORK ETHIC ♥️👏🏽👏🏽 Wow, Lol-people call out for a hangover, (including myself, no shade!) But truly this man is amazing! I’ve been watching since I was a little girl! 🙏🏽Saying prayers! *Much love* this disease can take a person very fast!
U are speaking death not life
Jesus is the way the truth and the life He conquered sin and death and is risen Seated at the right hand of the father He is all that matters Life here is brief Accept his forgiveness
Evie Smail -I didn’t mean to be negative, my sincerest apologies... Evie, I was a Hospice Nurse for 10 years, and saw this disease most often just a few weeks after the person learning they had it. It was devastating for the patients and their families. Very sad most times. But I did find God, early in my Hospice career, and believe your words! My prayers are genuine. I only have respect for your reply. Thank you, God Bless 🙏🏽
Indeed
What grace and poise for a man to hold himself so strong. Prayers for Alex.
"Today" or not she is one of the best interviewers.
God Bless him. What a guy! I think I am about to be diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 Pancreatic Cancer or progressed Liver Cirrhosis. I’m 56.. It’s scary, I hope I can have his bravery.
Wishing you well Melissa, hope things go well for you.
Let's pray the Lord touches you with a much less severe diagnosis.
Wishing you the best luck god bless you
(hug)
😍I love him. He is such a good looking man. He’s got a good looking family too. Which one is the wife? I’m glad he addressed the hair because I really couldn’t tell if it was or wasn’t his own hair. I hope he’ll be okay. He is a treasure. 🤗💞🤗
His wife is much younger than he is, but they both look younger than they are. What really interests me about his wife (Jean) is that she's involved with some alternative healing techniques, so I wonder if he's utilizing any of those same techniques.
He was 50 when his first child was born.
Saturday Night Live should do Jeopardy with Will Farrel as Alex..... only with Alex himself as James Holzhauer, getting every question right, and Daryl Hammond as Sean Connery as the contestant right next to him giving him the business about getting every question right.
I loved that skit!
Curse you, Alex
I'm gonna miss him - Jeopardy is the only TV show I can bear to watch because it's about pure skill and intellect.
What an admirable man. This is crazy but I just love that he does his own home improvements.
He is and will always be my favorite host. God bless you Alex
He's such an amazing person. God Bless you Alex, We love you!
Macho man indeed🙏😊prayers for him to keep fighting his upbeat. Positive attitude is amazing
11/2022 Alex Trebek has been away from us for a while now but we miss him still. He was a part of our lives for so long that, when he left it felt like we lost a best friend. Many Alex fans cried and grieved for quite a while. The replacement Jeopardy hosts are doing great and showing respect but it isn't quite the same without our friend. Thank God for old TV reruns of Classic Concentration. We can enjoy Alex Trebek there and our sorrow is lessened.
I hope he beats this. Alex was a part of my childhood and now my nephew's childhood. May he live another 20 or more years.
He lives on through the memories he created publicly
He didn't beat it RIP
what an all around good guy ! bless his heart prayers for a winning battle Alex ! ❤️
May GOD Bless you & Keep you Alex. PSALMS 91 . LOVE you Alex
Love this guy
I don’t care if he is Canadian born, Alex Trebek is an American National Treasure. He is so beloved by us that I felt like I was losing a family member when he was diagnosed. I hope we have him much longer but even more than that, I hope his family gets to spend more time with him.
RIP Alex....you continue to be my all time favorite game show host. Epitome of professionalism.
Still missing him. Such a great man. Rest in Paradise Sir.
Alex, don’t be a hero. Take care of yourself. Rest if you need to do so. No one will think less of you. How could we ever think less of you?
Doing the show probably gives him something to look forward to, it might keep him alive longer.
They only had a month or so worth of taping for the current season after his diagnosis. The summer hiatus he mentioned started in early April, so he should be doing fairly well at the taking care of himself part by now.
@@travelseatsyellowlab He's really excited about James, although I think at least some of James' shows were before the diagnosis.
@@travelseatsyellowlab taping the episodes of the show gave him a renewal of strength and energy, right up until he stopped taling 2 weeks prior to his passing
He is not just a "macho man" as he says, he's a very brave man to continue working despite his diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with Alex, he is truly an amazing host and an inspiration to many
James is the most Super AWESOME contestant I’ve ever seen on Jeopardy. 👏👏👍👏👍👏👏
With all due respect Mr. Trebek is a cool blankety-blank
leyenda61 😂😂😂💛
Rooting for you! Just lost my dad to cancer three months ago and it’s been super tough! Hope Alex makes it!
Agreed & My Condolences Bro
Thank you!
3:02 Alex giving his best John Mulaney impression
It’s been a year and he’s still doing amazing!
Alex rocks!
Amazing career! Speedy recovery to u sir! God bless
I knew Alex Trebek was different... I love him and I love Jeopardy.... Thank God he is doing well.....🙏🤗💗💟💗😀
Love you, Alex. You are a real soldier. God bless you.
His determination is truly inspirational
Sending love,! I lost my mom to cancer and I wouldn’t want anyone to have it.
Class act all around. I wish you well
mad respect for this man, honestly
Answer: A host who is not allowed to ever leave us. Question: Who is Alex Trebek?
Sadly, only the Man Upstairs has a say in when we leave this earth....and in late October of last year, the Man Upstairs decided that his work here on earth was done, and that it was time for him to head to his eternal destination: Heaven. Alex, this one's for you!⬇ 🎵Go rest high on that mountain 🎵Son, your work on earth is done 🎵Go to Heaven a shoutin'...... 🎵Run Toward the Father and the Son!🎵
He looks great for 78
“Why are you making me laugh about it?” “Well, what else are we going to do?” Oh man I almost cried. Stay strong Mr.Trebek. You’re absolutely one of a kind, we love you ❤️❤️
The pure zen master
Now here's a tv personality I would be proud to vote for President.