Celebrities Pay Tribute at Passing of "Jeopardy!" Host Alex Trebek

Host of the beloved quiz show "Jeopardy!" for more than 30 years, Alex Trebek, has passed away on Sunday at 80-years-old.

Trebek announced in 2019 that he advanced pancreatic cancer and died at his Los Angeles home, surrounded family and friends.

"Jeopardy!" studio Sony made the announcement. On March 6, 2019, the Canadian-born host informed fans about his health directly.

He spoke in a calm tone as he revealed his illness and hope for a cure in a video posted. In the video posted, Trebek said he was joining the 50,000 other Americans who had the same diagnosis each year.

He added that he was aware that the prognosis was not encouraging. The long-time "Jeopardy!" host said he planned to fight it and keep working.

Trebek joked that he needed to fight the disease, saying that his contract ran for three years more.

A week later his statement, he started the show with an acknowledging message for those who offered their kind words and prayers he received.

"Thanks to the - believe it or not - hundreds of thousands of people who have sent in tweets, texts, emails, cards and letters wishing me well," Trebek was quoted in the Associated News report.

He added that he was a very lucky guy. A Sony spokeswoman said that the program tapes weeks of shows in advance, while the remaining episodes with Trebek will air through Dec. 25.

Former contestants, celebrities, and the general public quickly followed news of his death.

"Jeopardy!" champion Ken Jennings said that Trebek was not only best at what he did, but he was also a lovely and decent man.

Jennings added that he is grateful for every minute he got to spend with the host. Another "Jeopardy!" star posted on Twitter to express his sentiments.

Alex Holzhauer said that it was one of the great privileges of his life to spend time with Trebek, while the latter was fighting for his life.

John Legend was among celebrities who reminisced their memory of "Jeopary!" host. Legend said in his tweets that he was following "Jeopardy" when he was just a kid in Ohio.

"I've loved and revered Alex Trebek since I can remember. What an iconic career," Legend tweeted.

"Jeopardy!"

The program dubbed itself as "American's favorite quiz show."

It captured the audience's attention with a unique format in which contestants were told the answers and had to provide the questions on different subjects.

This includes movies, politics, history, and popular culture.

Trebek was the host of the program and he never pretended to know the answers himself if he really didn't.

In a 2004 interview, he said that he tries not to take himself too seriously.

Trebek added that he did not want to come off as pompous and indicate that he knows everything when he doesn't.

"Jeopardy!" conquered the American public's televisions in 1964 with Art Fleming as as emcee.

It was the revived with Trebek in 1975