When you think of Jeopardy, you think of Alex Trebek, who sadly passed away at the age of 80 on November 9th, 2020. Just over a year on from the TV legend’s death, his wife Jean Currie Trebek has spoken out about her still-fresh grief for her husband. The words shared are heartbreaking and raw, leaving viewers and friends alike wondering if Jean has moved on from her devastating personal loss.
After five decades of hosting the classic game show, Trebek’s presence on TV was reassuring and familiar; it's no surprise, then, that it still feels strange not seeing the icon on TV every night. And after three decades of marriage, two children, and countless memories it'll surely also take time for Trebek's wife to get used to the loss of her husband. We’ll be looking back at the pair’s relationship over the years and looking at where Jean Trebek is now to consider how has been coping with her immense loss.
Jean And Alex Trebek Were An Admirable Couple
First, let's paint a picture of Jean and Alex’s relationship since they shared an enduring love for over three decades. The pair first met in 1988, after being introduced via a mutual friend of Alex's. Jean was just 23 and Alex, who has just finalized his divorce from first wife Ellaine Callei Trebek, was 47.
Although some may have had reservations about their 24-year age gap, the pair went on to prove any doubters wrong. The couple married in 1990 and even under the pressure of constant media attention and Alex’s relentless work schedule as Jeopardy's host, the pair shared one of Hollywood's most enduring and enviable love stories.
Alex Trebek’s Cancer Diagnosis Was Earth-Shattering News For Jean
In 2019, Alex took to Jeopardy’s YouTube channel to share some tragic news. Addressing his 126k followers, he told them how “just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.”
Although Trebek added in the video that the “prognosis for this is not very encouraging,” he reassured his followers that he “was going to fight this”. Nevertheless, the news was a devastating blow for Jean. Speaking to Guideposts several months before his death, she shared how hearing those fateful words made it feel “as if the bottom dropped out of my world.”
How Did Jean First React To Alex’s Death?
Despite a strong battle from Alex, he sadly died on November 9th, 2020. Jean stayed by his side until the very end and several days after his death, she took to Instagram to thank friends, family, and fans for rallying around the Trebeks.
She wrote: "My family and I sincerely thank you for all of your compassionate messages and generosity. Your expressions have truly touched our hearts." Alongside the caption was a poignant image of Jean and her husband on her wedding day. After this message, Jean was, understandably, quiet for some time and few people saw or heard from her for a while.
Jean Still Experiences Waves of Grief
The pain of losing someone can last a lifetime and only six months on from Alex’s death, Jean bravely sat down for her first interview as a widow. Taking to CBS's Savannah Guthrie, she told how “right now I’m talking with you, I’m good” but confessed that she still has “moments of waves of grief that just come over me. Still… really disbelief that he’s gone”, and added that “I miss him a lot.”
Addressing how she has been living her day-to-day life, Jean reiterated her disbelief. She explained to Guthrie that "there are moments of my day that I miss Alex so much, and I just have to allow myself those times. Sometimes I feel as if he's been on a long vacation, and there are other times that the reality of the absence is really palatable."
Jean’s Family And Friends Are A Critical Support Network
Alex is survived not only by his wife but by three children, two of whom he shared with Jean. Emily and Matthew were born in the '90s and were in their late 20s and early 30s at the time of their dad's death.
In the days following their dad's death, both children were seen at their parent's home in Los Angeles and it's clear that they have been crucial support pillars for their mum. Speaking with Guthrie, Jean explained how "I find that being with my family and friends or doing something creative and new is really useful."
Jean Is Working Through Her Grief To Build Alex’s Legacy
Even in the midst of her grief, Jean has proved an inspiring force for good by continuing to support the causes that were close to Alex’s heart. Among those causes is supporting homeless shelters access Los Angeles. Even during their personal loss, Jean and her family pursued their humanitarian work and donated $500,000 to the Hope of the Valley shelter.
Seeing the love so many people shared for Alex has also proved a source of comfort for his wife. In late 2019, during Trebek's final Jeopardy episode, contestant Dhruv Gaur couldn't think of the answer. Improvising, he wrote on the board: "What is we love you, Alex" - a moving testament to the host's popularity.
The heartwarming moment has stuck with Jean and is one she remains grateful for to this day. She shared with Guthrie how "When that contestant wrote that, you could see him, like, 'Oh, don't make me cry here, but I love it'. And I think that meant the world to him."