Alex Trebek Dies After Pancreatic Cancer Battle, Host’s Final ‘Jeopardy’ Episode Airs On Christmas

Alex Trebek, the longtime host of the popular game show “Jeopardy!,” died on Sunday. He was 80 years old.

The cause of death has not been announced. In March 2019, Trebek shared that he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

"Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends," the game show's Twitter account read Sunday. "Thank you, Alex."

Since Jeopardy’s 1984 premiere, Trebek has hosted more than 8,200 episodes, which set the Guinness World Record for the most episodes of a single game show ever hosted.

Since the episodes are filmed in advance, Trebek will continue to appear as the host of the show until the end of the year.

Page Six reported Trebek was last seen at the Culver City, California, studio on Oct. 29, more than a week before his death.

In a statement, the show revealed Trebek’s last episode would air on Christmas. “JEOPARDY! episodes hosted by Alex will air through December 25, 2020,” the statement read.

Trebek signed on to host the series through the 2021-22 season and a replacement has not been announced. Although there has been some speculation that “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings could be Trebek’s successor, the show has denied the rumor.

“The show is not announcing plans for a new host at this time,” they said in a statement.

Trebek had spoken about his cancer battle in October 2019.

"I’m not afraid of dying,” Trebek said 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 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.'"

Trebek was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Along with "Jeopardy!," Trebek hosted several other game shows.