Biography for
Alex Trebek Plus avec IMDbPro »

Date de naissance

22 July 1940, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Nom de naissance

Giorgi Suka-Alex Trebek

Taille

1,73 m

Mini Biographie

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 (Canadian Broadcasting Company), Canada's premier network in 1961. As he was working, he helped organize national news and covered a variety of special events for CBC's radio and television divisions, receiving high praise as a broadcaster who retained his poise and composure in the toughest places. Then, in 1966, he became a Canadian game show host on "Reach for the Top" (1965), and stayed there for the first seven years until he migrated to the United States to host his very first game show in that country, "The Wizard of Odds" (1973), for NBC.

Prior to being selected as the host of "Jeopardy!" (1984), for syndication, he came back to NBC and hosted the revamped version of "Classic Concentration" (1987), which was also his second hit in his almost 30 year career. On this show, he received 4 Emmy nominations, but didn't win. It was cancelled in 1991, when the network stopped making game show for daytime TV.

On May 17, 2002, "Jeopardy!" (1984) celebrated a milestone, the show celebrated its 4000th episode and at the same time, it received another Daytime Emmy for "Outstanding Game Show/Audience Participation", making it its 21st Emmy. Like Bob Barker, 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.

IMDb Mini Biographie par: Gary Richard Collins II (hugsarealwaysinorder@yahoo.com)

Marié(e) à

Jean Currivan	(30 April 1990 - present) 2 children
Elaine Callei	(1974 - 1981) (divorced)

Caractéristique

His mustache.

Anecdotes

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 Trebek's Studio City, California home during a fierce wind storm. (5 January 2003)

Two children: Emily and Matthew

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" (1975).

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" (1973), 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 Trebek's idea to include separate competitions for teenagers, seniors, and celebrities on "Jeopardy!" (1984).

When he married Jean Currivan, at the ceremony he gave his wedding vow as a joke on the "Jeopardy!" (1984) 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 George Edward Trebek, a Russian immigrant, and Lucille (Lagace) Trebek, a French-Canadian of Native American ancestry.

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 I'm not one to keep my big mouth shut. I enjoy talking." [February 24, 1974]

Was a newcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Network before becoming a game show host.

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 Philbin's talk show and Trebek said he refused to be tested for his "brains" on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (1999/I).

Every day he reads the movie book by Roger Ebert.

Had 2 biggest winners in "Jeopardy!" (1984) 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. He's still hosting "Jeopardy!" (1984), which is a ratings bonanza in syndication, for 25+ years. The other show was "Classic Concentration" (1987) 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!" (1984) were carried on most of the CTV networks in Canada but it still ranks #2 behind "Wheel of Fortune" (1975), in ratings in most U.S. markets where both programs are often in tandem. (2003)

Is a spokesman for World Vision.

Is an avid ice skater.

Once subbed for Chuck Woolery on the daytime version of "Wheel of Fortune" (1975), before he was hired as the host of "Jeopardy!" (1984) for syndication.

Once told a 15-year-old Teen "Jeopardy!" (1984) contestant that if she never realized her dream to be editor-in-chief of a magazine, she could get married instead. [4 November 1999].

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 house's electrical and plumbing problems.

Lives next door to Ed Begley Jr..

Proposed to wife Jean Currivan on her birthday, 12 September.

Has been Emmy-nominated 16 times as host of "Jeopardy!" (1984), has won 5 times, last time in 2008.

His friend Wayne Brady appeared on "Jeopardy!" (1984), a year after Trebek appeared on Brady's 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!" (1984), 20 years ago, he wanted to create the show's "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 he's 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.

Shaved his infamous mustache during the 2000-2001 season of "Jeopardy!" (1984). 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!" (1984), 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 Brad's 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" (1976), which was hosted by Richard Dawson.

Was Mark Goodson's first choice to host the new game show, "Classic Concentration" (1987) for NBC, which was based on the popular game show, "Concentration" (1958). He accepted the job and hosted until its demised in 1991, though reruns aired between late 1991 and the end of 1993.

Citations personnelles

"We are trying to entertain the audience. We happen to do it by enlightening and educating them." [January 10, 1988]

"I have learned quite a bit, but it's not like you know enough about the topics to lead a discussion at a cocktail party." - On the question if hosting the show has expanded his knowledge.

[When asked if he missed Bob Barker's final show in 2007]: I was doing some electrical work in an attic today.

Où sont-ils maintenant

(2007) Host of an infomercial for the "Word Smart" accelerated reading and comprehension program.

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