Alex Trebek was much loved among the game show industry.
The iconic “Jeopardy!” host died at the age of 80 in November after a battle with pancreatic cancer and is now remembered by some of his contemporaries: Pat Sajak and Vanna White, ‘Wheel of Fortune’.
“I knew Alex for almost 40 years, and he was just a good friend,” White, 63, told Entertainment Tonight. “Over the years, I got to know his wife and children, and he’s just part of the family.”
Sajak (74) especially took note of Trebek’s admirable and decades-long career on television.
ALEX TREBEK WAS ‘HERCULEAN’ WHILE ‘JEOPARDIE’ FILMER! EPISODES, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SS
‘Wheel of Fortune’ hosts Pat Sajak (left) and Vanna White (center) open about their ‘admiration’ for ‘Jeopardy! ‘host Alex Trebek (right) after his death. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth / WireImage)
“Only on a professional level have I been here for a long time and I really admire what he did, and he did so much,” he said.
Sajak continues: “When I started the show … Alex had already done half a dozen, maybe more, games here and in Canada, he did a lot of it and was always very professional and was like the perfect match for his show . ‘
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Trebek hosted ‘Jeopardy!’ since 1984 and has earned himself countless awards and nominations for his work, not to mention a massive, adoring and multi-generational support base.
Sajak reflects on Trebek’s professional achievements and says: “As a fellow professional, admiration is not in the rankings.”
Alex Trebek died in November after a battle with abdominal cancer. (Eric McCandless / ABC via Getty Images)
Before his death, Trebek had a number of “Jeopardy!” episodes, the last of which airs Friday. A series of hosts, including champion Ken Jennings and reportedly Katie Couric, will meanwhile serve before appointing a permanent replacement.
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‘Wheel of Fortune’ is about to undergo a change, while venturing out for the first time with a special presentation from well-known contestants.
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“In 38 years we’ve never been on the first time, so do not now?” asks White, known for her tenure as the program’s letter carrier. “It’s a positive thing, it’s a family thing, celebrities are excited, we’m excited, we’re giving a lot of money away to a lot of charities, so it was really special.”