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Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajak Remembers Jeopardy Host Alex Trebek: He ‘Inspired Millions’

Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak is mourning the loss of his friend Alex Trebek in a heartfelt tribute. The Jeopardy! host passed away today (Nov. 8) after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Trebek was 80-years-old.

In a Twitter post, Sajak reflected on Trebek’s legacy both as a game show host and as a person. Though they appeared on rival game shows, the two were friends in real life. They even swapped jobs once, hosting each other’s game show in a role reversal inspired by the movie Freaky Friday.

He wrote, “Alex Trebek’s courage, grace and strength inspired millions and awed those of us who knew him. A tremendous loss for his family, friends, co-workers and countless viewers. I was honored to be a friend and a part of his professional family for all these years. A very sad day.”

Alex Trebek Passed Away Following a Cancer Battle

Trebek was open about his battle with pancreatic cancer since doctors diagnosed him in March 2019. He believed in transparency and sharing updates with fans as he battled cancer. After his diagnosis, the game show host began chemotherapy and treatment.

He later said he regretted going public with his diagnosis for fear people treated him like a pancreatic cancer spokesperson. Trebek continued to host Jeopardy! until the day he died. He had recently extended his contract to 2022 with the belief he would beat cancer. But recently, he revealed in an interview he knew he was dying.

“I’m not afraid of dying,” he told CTV News in an interview. “I’ve lived a good life, a full life, and I’m nearing the end of that life … if it happens, why should I be afraid of that? One thing they’re not going to say at my funeral, as a part of a eulogy, is ‘He was taken from us too soon.’”