Alex Trebek - Biography

Who is Alex Trebek?

Alex Trebek is a TV host/ presenter, voice actor by profession, and Canadian, American by nationality. He is best known for hosting Jeopardy! since 1984.

Alex Trebek – Age, Parents, Siblings

Alex Trebek’s birth took place on July 22, 1940, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He was born George Alexander Trebek to his father George Edward Trebek, a Ukrainian chef, and his mother Lucille Lagacé of Franco-Ontarian roots.

He is not the only child of his parents and has a sibling, a sister named Barbara Trebek. 

young Alex Trebek (Pinterest)

Education, Ethnicity

Alex Trebek was educated at the Sudbury Secondary School, formerly known as Sudbury High. After graduation, he attended the University of Ottawa. He graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1961 with a degree in philosophy.

His ethnicity includes French, Irish, and Ukrainian.

Alex Trebek – Girlfriend, Wife, Children, Divorce

Trebek married his girlfriend Elaine Callei, a businesswoman and former Playboy bunny on 25 September 1974. But their marriage ended in divorce on 13 May 1982. The couple did not have any children together but Trebek had adopted Elaine’s daughter, Nicky. Nicky was 6 years old when her mother married Trebek. Her biological father is Louis Callei. 

Alex Trebek went on to date Jean Currivan, New York-based a real estate project manager, and married her on 30 April 1990. He and his wife have welcomed two children together, a son Matthew Trebek (born 1990), and a daughter Emily Trebek (born 1993).

Also read: Sonny Side - YouTuber, Host of Best Ever Food Review Show 

from left- Matthew Trebek, Nicky, Emily Trebek, Jean Currivan, Alex Trebek (heavy.com)

Alex Trebek – Career

Before Fame

Alex Trebek began working at the age of 13 as a bellhop at the hotel where his father worked as a chef. In 1961, before graduating from University, he began working for the CBC. In 1963, he hosted the Canadian music program called Music Hop, and in 1966 hosted a high school quiz show called Reach for the Top.

From 1967 to 1970, Alex Trebek worked as a host for many CBC shows including Strategy.

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Move to the United States

Looking for better opportunities, Trebek moved to the United States in 1973, There he began working as a host for NBC’s The Wizard of Odds. Other shows he has hosted are High Rollers, Double Dare, The $128,000 Question, Battlestars,  Pitfall, Classic Concentration (1987), To Tell the Truth (1991), and Pillsbury Bake-Off (1994- 1998).

Alex Trebek has also had guest appearances in Magnificent Marble Machine (1975),  To Say the Least (1978), Card Sharks (1980), Celebrity Bowling (1976), Wheel of Fortune (1997), Hot in Cleveland (2014), etc.

In 1984,  Trebek began hosting Jeopardy! , created by Merv Griffin, and as of 2019, is still the host of the show. In June 2014, he held a Guinness World Record for "the most game show episodes hosted by the same presenter (same program)" breaking Bob Barker’s record.

Alex Trebek hosting Jeopardy! in 1980 (Entertainment Weekly)

Worked with

Alex Trebek has worked with fellow hosts Jim Perry, Tom Kennedy,  Jim McKrell, and Pat Sajak.

Alex Trebek – Awards, Nominations

Trebek received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto in 2006 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also received the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's Gold Medal in 2010

Moreover, has been awarded six Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy Awards (1989, 1990, 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2019).

Also read: Jill Wagner - Actress, Model, TV host of Wipeout 

Alex Trebek – Health issues

On December 11, 2007, Trebek suffered a minor heart attack and returned to work in January, In July 2011 he injured an Achilles tendon while chasing a burglar who had entered his San Francisco hotel room. The injury required him to stay for six weeks in a cast.

On December 15, 2017, Alex Trebek was admitted to the hospital after a fall in October. He was diagnosed with subdural hematoma, a blood clot in the brain, and underwent surgery to remove the clot.

Trebek announced on  March 6, 2019, that he has been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He has vowed to fight cancer and escape from his death, joking that his contract obligated him to do so for three more years.

Alex Trebek (Howard Stern)

Alex Trebek – Net Worth, Salary

The net worth and annual salary of Trebek are estimated to be around $75 million and $18 million respectively.

Alex Trebek – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On social media sites Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, Alex Trebek is absent.

Also read: Bob Barker - TV host, Producer, Actor 

Alex Trebek – Death

On November 8, 2020, Trebek passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. He announced that he had been diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer in March 2019.