Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Trebek graduated from the University of Ottawa with a degree in Philosophy. After his first decision to become a newscaster, he joined the CBC , Alex Trebek had broken the world record as host of TV's #1 quiz show in the country, and he won 2 Emmy Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and, this year, was described as one of the Top 10 Canadians on U.S. Television. Today, as Alex began his 19th year as the host, he remains as popular as any other quizmaster.
Game show host
Owns a Creston, California vineyard, "Creston Vineyards."
Became a US citizen in 1998.
Graduated University of Ottawa with a degree in Philosophy
A large oak tree smashed into the garage of Trebeks Studio City, California home during a fierce wind storm. (5 January 2003)
Two children: daughter Emily Trebek and son Matthew Trebek.
Hosts the National Geography Bee in the U.S. and Canada.
Owns 700-acre Thoroughbred horse farm, Creston Farms.
Parodied by Will Ferrell on "Saturday Night Live" .
Sits on the boards of the National Geographic Society Education Foundation and the National Advisory Council for the Literary Volunteers of America.
Won the Bob Hope Entertainment Award in 1998 for his work with the USO.
His first game show, "The Wizard of Odds" , was produced by Alan Thicke.
He has framed a bounced check for $49,000, which he received from a game show he worked at in the 1970s that failed.
It was Trebeks idea to include separate competitions for teenagers, seniors, and celebrities on "Jeopardy!" .
When he married Jean Currivan, at the ceremony he gave his wedding vow as a joke on the "Jeopardy!" rule of phrasing an answer as a question by saying, "The answer is... yes".
Is fluent in English and French and speaks some German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian.
His parents were Lucille (Lagac), who was of French-Canadian, and approximately 1/8th British Isles (including Irish), ancestry, and George Edward Trebek, a Ukrainian immigrant.
When young, Trebek thought about becoming a priest, but changed his mind after spending a summer at a Trappist monastery. He said in an interview for the New York Sunday News, "I took a vow not only of poverty but of silence. And Im not one to keep my big mouth shut. I enjoy talking." [February 24, 1974]
Before he was a successful game show host, he was a newscaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Network.
Is the current moderator for the annual National Geographic Bee in Canada and The United States.
After having a confrontation at a Los Angeles International Airport, he sued an airline employee who said he left her with serious hand injuries. [23 March 2000]
Lived in the U.S. since 1973.
While driving alone on a country road near Templeton, California, where he owns a horse farm, he lost consciousness at the wheel which led him to his car crash. [30 January 2004]
Received a phone call from Regis Philbin for his final answer on Philbins talk show and Trebek said he refused to be tested for his "brains" on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" .
Every day he reads the movie book by Roger Ebert.
Had 2 biggest winners in "Jeopardy!" history with more than $80,000 cash and an automobile. One was Doug Lach, who won $85,400 in cash and car in Season 16, and the other one was: Travis Troyer, who won $83,100 in cash and car in Season 19.
Sang a couple of lines from one of The Bee Gees songs.
Has hosted two game shows that made it big in his 35+ year run, all three behind Bob Barker , Wink Martindale and Bob Eubanks , making him one of the youngest game show hosts in history. Hes still hosting "Jeopardy!" , which is a ratings bonanza in syndication, for 25+ years. The other show was "Classic Concentration" for NBC, which he hosted for five years.
As a teenager, he was a garbage man in Cincinnati, but moved back to his native Canada in 1961 to finish college and to become a newsanchor.
His father, George Edward, was an alcoholic.
His hosting duties on "Jeopardy!" were carried on most of the CTV networks in Canada but it still ranks #2 behind "Wheel of Fortune" , in ratings in most U.S. markets where both programs are often in tandem.
Is a spokesman for World Vision.
Once subbed for Chuck Woolery on the daytime version of "Wheel of Fortune" , before he was hired as the host of "Jeopardy!" for syndication.
He purchased a house so he could use its tennis court. In the 1990s it was rented by Pete Rose and his wife Carol, who had to get him to fix the houses electrical and plumbing problems.
Lives next door to Ed Begley Jr..
Proposed to wife Jean Currivan on her birthday, 12 September.
His friend Wayne Brady appeared on "Jeopardy!" , a year after Trebek appeared on Bradys own talk show, just before both were nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award. Brady has won more Emmys than Trebek, for Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Host. Trebek was nominated for Audience Participation in a Game Show and Outstanding Game Show Host.
After Merv Griffin created "Jeopardy!" , 20 years ago, he wanted to create the shows "think" music, including that of "Final Jeopardy!," and Trebek was among the candidates to host the show during its taping.
Is a frequent traveller.
Though hes good at pronouncing words in many different languages, he has had difficulty with Welsh and Hawaiian.
Owns two different homes, one in Beverly Hills and the other in the San Fernando Valley.
Enjoys collecting and drinking wine, training and bred thoroughbred racing, golfing and hosting quiz shows.
Shaved his infamous mustache during the 2000-2001 season of "Jeopardy!" . He had the mustache for over 30 years.
Graduated from Malvern Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Hospitalized after suffering a minor heart attack at his home on December 10, 2007. Is resting comfortably.
On "Jeopardy!" , he had 3 biggest winners: one was college graduate, Brad Rutter , who won $3,270,102, in the Tournament of Champions, including $55,102 during Brads 5 appearances on the show, software engineer, comic book and movie collector, and game show contestant, Ken Jennings , who won $3,022,700, also in the Tournament of Champions, including $2,520,700, during his 74 appearances on the show, and college graduate and author, David Madden , who won $442,400, including $432,400, during his 19 appearances on the show.
Appeared on the final week of "Family Feud" , which was hosted by Richard Dawson.
Broke his leg on July 27, 2011 as he was chasing a female burglar who had broken into his San Francisco hotel room. Suspect was later apprehended by police.
Was a fan of Julie London s music.
Suffered a mild heart attack on June 23, 2012 and was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for observation.
Republican.
Spokesperson for Colonial Penn Life Insurance for over 18 years.
Best known by the public as the host of "Jeopardy!" and "Classic Concentration" .
Ranked #3 as GSNs Top 10 Game Show Hosts of All Time.
Replaced football player Lynn Swann as the final host of the revamped version of "To Tell the Truth" .
Graduated from University of Ottawa High School (Oblates of Mary Immaculate - OMI) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in 1957.
Friends with: Bob Barker , Bob Goen , Richard Dawson , Bob Eubanks , Betty White , Geoff Edwards , Wink Martindale , Bill Cullen , Jim Perry , Pat Sajak , Pat Finn , Jim Lange , Chuck Woolery , Dick Clark , Merv Griffin , Mark Goodson , Betty White , Tom Kennedy Roger Ebert , Regis Philbin , Vicki Lawrence , Alan Thicke and Meredith MacRae.
As a student at the University of Ottawa, he was a member of the English Debating Society.
Was employed at Mark Goodson Productions from 1976 to 1977 and again from 1987 to 1991.
Filled in for Charles Gibson on "Good Morning America" for a week.
Attended Monty Hall s 90th birthday party attended at the Los Angeles Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles, California, on 25 August 2011.
Long before Brian Haley would be a stand-up comedian, he was one of Trebeks contestants on "Classic Concentration" .
Worked with game show announcer Gene Wood on both game shows: "Double Dare" and "Classic Concentration" .
Had missed two episodes of "To Tell the Truth" , because he was rushed to the hospital, where Jean gave birth to a baby boy, Matthew, early in 1991, hence, he asked Mark Goodson to substitute for him.
Trebek is also one of four game show hosts to have emceed a game show in the United States and another in Canada, the other three were Howie Mandel , Geoff Edwards and Jim Perry.
Was employed by Heatter-Quigley Productions (later Merrill Heatter Productions) from 1974 to 1983.
His mother, Lucille (Lagace) Trebek, celebrated her 90th birthday in 2011.
Worked with game show announcer Charlie ODonnell on both game shows: "The Wizard of Odds" and "To Tell the Truth" .
Was Merv Griffin s and Bob Murphy s first choice as host of "Jeopardy!" , who eventually hired Trebek on the spot, after subbing for an ailing Chuck Woolery on "Wheel of Fortune" .
Formerly the member of the National Advisory Council for Volunteers of America.
Attended the funeral of Merv Griffin when his producer died in 2007.
Ranks fourth behind Bill Cullen , Tom Kennedy and Wink Martindale , in the number of game shows hosted at 12, with Bob Eubanks and Geoff Edwards both trailing that record, by 4, at 8.
His mother, Lucille (Lagace) Trebek, had Alex, when she was age 19.
The American Federation for the Blind in 2001 awarded Trebek with one of six Access Awards for his role in accommodating notable "Jeopardy!" champion Eddie Timanus.
Revealed on an episode of "Jeopardy" that he doesnt ski, after a contestant recounted his terrifying experience hanging upside down from a chairlift.
His favorite author is Mark Twain.
Is a spokesperson for Colonial Penn Life Insurance.
Ranked #10 on Lifes 15 Best Game Show Hosts.
Like fellow game show hosts, Bob Barker , Bob Eubanks , Bill Cullen , Gene Rayburn , Geoff Edwards and Wink Martindale , Trebek was known to be a very busy television personality.
Like fellow game show hosts Bob Eubanks , Jim Perry , Chuck Woolery Dick Clark , Pat Sajak and Bert Convy , Trebek was one of the game show emcees to host a game show both in daytime and in nighttime.
Had underwent successful knee surgery. [20 December 2015].
Was the second choice to host the revamped version of "Classic Concentration" for NBC, when unfamiliar game show host/comedian Ray Combs , who was Mark Goodson s first choice to emcee the show, had auditioned and lost the job. Combs would later host the revamped version of "Family Feud" for CBS, the following year, which was also produced by Goodson.
He has received the Royal Canadian Geographical Societys Gold Medal for his contribution to geographic education and the popular study of geography. Previous recipients of this award include the author and anthropologist Wade Davis , Peter Gzowski , and Mary May Simon , among many others. [4 November 2010].
His alma mater, the University of Ottawa, named its alumni hall in his honour, as a benefactor to the university. [4 May 2015].
He has held a Guinness World Record for "the most gameshow episodes hosted by the same presenter (same program)" for having hosted 6,829 episodes of "Jeopardy!" , overtaking previous record holder Bob Barker. [13 June 2014].
Is an avid ice skater.
Learning something new is fun.
