Alex Trebek said Wednesday he has been diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer for which the usual prognosis, he said, “is not very encouraging.”
In a video statement from the set of “Jeopardy!” the longtime host gave his fans the grim news because he didn’t want “overblown, inaccurate” rumor-mongering.
“Just like 50,000 other people in the United States every year, I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer,” he said.
Despite the grim diagnosis, which has a median survival rate of two to six months, Mr. Trebek said: “I’m gonna fight this.”
He has to beat that rate, he semi-joked, because his contract with the show’s producers means “I have to host ’Jeopardy!’ for three more years.”
SEE ALSO: Ken Jennings, ‘Jeopardy’ champ, compares Alex Trebek to Walter Cronkite
The celebrity-news site TMZ said it had been told that “Alex’s intention is to finish out the current season of ’Jeopardy,’ but anything beyond that is up in the air.”
In a spiritual admonition to fans, he said he would beat the survival odds “with the love and support of my family and with the help and support of your prayers.”
Fellow game-show host Pat Sajak was among the thousands on social media who quickly responded to Mr. Trebek’s call.
“The Sajak family is deeply saddened to hear of Alex Trebek’s struggle with cancer. Our hearts go out to him and his family. But there is no one I know who is stronger and more determined, and I would never bet against him. We, and the entire country, are pulling for you, Alex,” wrote the longtime host of “Wheel of Fortune.”
The 78-year-old Canadian-born host has been at the helm of “Jeopardy!” — one of the most popular and long-running shows in TV history — since its revival in 1984.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.