Alex Trebek biography

Jeopardy! quickly became one of the most popular game shows in television history, and as its charismatically unflappable host, Trebek became a pop culture icon, winning five Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host in his more than 27 years on the air.

Another measure of the host's iconic status in pop culture is the ubiquity of Alex Trebek parodies—Will Farrell played a crazed Trebek on Saturday Night Live, Eugene Levy played "Alex Trebel" on Half Wits,

and Family Guy, The Simpsons, and The X-Files have all included Trebek-parodying storylines. The good-spirited Trebek thinks the parodies are hilarious, and especially liked Eugene's Levy's take. "I thought Eugene captured the private horror a game show host experiences trying to keep things moving on a day where everything is going wrong," he says.

Alex Trebek married Elaine Callei in 1974, and they remained married for seven years before divorcing in 1981. In 1990, he wed for a second time, to Jean Currivan, and they have two children, Emily and Matthew.

Trebek is an active volunteer and spokesman for organizations such as World Vision and Smile Train, which help improve the lives of impoverished children around the world. He has participated in 12 USO tours visiting American troops overseas, and in 1998 he was awarded the prestigious Bob Hope Entertainment Award.

After more than a quarter century hosting Jeopardy!, Trebek remains as fresh, motivated, and humble as ever. Asked in a recent interview how he manages such a remarkable balance between professional success and personal modesty, Trebek responded, "Take your job seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously." He also answered a question that has been burning in audiences' minds ever since Trebek first began reminding contestants to state their answer in the form of a question back in 1984. How would he do as a contestant himself? Trebek answered, "I would do fairly well among senior citizens, but against a good 30-year-old I would have trouble because I cannot recall information as quickly as I used to. You used to say something and I would go, boom, right away, very sharp. Now it's like, Oh, yes, but wait a minute, uh, uh...."

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