Alex Trebek And Pat Sajak

Nov 09, 2020 In an Instagram post on Sunday, White shared several photos of herself alongside Trebek and Sajak over the years. The Wheel of Fortune hostess, 63, also penned a heartfelt statement for her late. Wheel of Fortune 's Pat Sajak and Vanna White are mourning the death of their friend and fellow television host Alex Trebek. © Provided by People Pat Sajak, Vanna White, Alex Trebek On Sunday, the.

© Provided by People 'There will never be another Alex Trebek and he will truly be missed,' Vanna White said

Wheel of Fortune's Pat Sajak and Vanna White are mourning the death of their friend and fellow television host Alex Trebek.

On Sunday, the longtime Jeopardy! host died at the age of 80 after being diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in March 2019. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Sajak, 74, called Trebek's death a 'tremendous loss.'

'The death of Alex Trebek is a tremendous loss for his family, his friends, his co-workers and the millions of viewers who followed his long and illustrious career,' he said. 'It was an honor for me to be a part of his professional family for nearly 40 years. His strength and courage and grace during his recent health struggles inspired countless others. Alex was truly one of a kind.'

Alex trebek death pat sajak
Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Dies After Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

White, 63, echoed Sajak in her own statement to PEOPLE. 'I will cherish the many memories I have shared with Alex Trebek that date back well before either of our careers took off,' she said. 'I will always be in awe of the way he faced the battle he fought so valiantly and I'm devastated to lose my longtime friend.'

White added, 'My heart is with his family, friends, co-workers and fans. There will never be another Alex Trebek and he will truly be missed.'

© Provided by People Pat Sajak, Vanna White, Alex Trebek

Our hearts are with our friends at Jeopardy! as they say goodbye to their incredible host, Alex Trebek. He will be greatly missed by all of us. https://t.co/pjEBPcmMHr

— Wheel of Fortune (@WheelofFortune) November 8, 2020

Alex Trebek’s courage, grace and strength inspired millions and awed those of us who knew him. A tremendous loss for his family, friends, co-workers and countless viewers. I was honored to be a friend and a part of his professional family for all these years. A very sad day.

— Pat Sajak (@patsajak) November 8, 2020

Sajak also shared his grief on Twitter, writing: 'Alex Trebek’s courage, grace and strength inspired millions and awed those of us who knew him. A tremendous loss for his family, friends, co-workers and countless viewers. I was honored to be a friend and a part of his professional family for all these years.'

Members of the Jeopardy! family also remembered the beloved host on Sunday. Ken Jennings, the 74-time champion who recently joined the show as a consulting producer, remembered Trebek as “a lovely and decent man.”

“Alex wasn’t just the best ever at what he did. He was also a lovely and deeply decent man,” he wrote in a touching tribute. “I’m grateful for every minute I got to spend with him.”

A post shared by Vanna White (@officialvannawhite) on Nov 8, 2020 at 12:18pm PST

© Provided by People Eric McCandless via Getty Images Alex Trebek

In a statement to PEOPLE, fellow champion James Holzhauer said, 'Alex Trebek was a legend of American television who will never be forgotten or truly replaced. His courageous fight against cancer was an inspiration to all, and his charitable work touched countless lives. In a time where the country feels deeply divided, Alex will be missed by everyone.'

Trebek is survived by his wife Jean and their two children: son Matthew and daughter Emily. He also has an older daughter Nicky, whom he adopted when he was married to Nicky’s mother, his first wife Elaine Callei.

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
By/Aug. 6, 2020 4:22 pm EST/Updated: Nov. 8, 2020 1:17 pm EST

Wheel Of Fortune Alex Trebek

Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak are both famous for the same thing: Being the longtime hosts of two of the most popular game shows on television. Trebek first popped up on Jeopardy! in 1984 and over the years 'has become one of television's most enduring and iconic figures, engaging millions of viewers worldwide with his impeccable delivery of 'answers and questions,' according to the show's website.

As for Sajak, History notes that '[i]n 1981, Wheel of Fortune's creator, Merv Griffin (who also developed ... Jeopardy!, which debuted in 1964) tapped Sajak to take over hosting duties from Chuck Woolery for a network daytime version of Wheel.' In the time since Trebek and Sajak first took on their hosting duties, the two have earned countless honors (like the many awards that both the Jeopardy! host and Wheel of Fortune host have won and been nominated for), set records, and enamored endless viewers.

Alex Trebek And Pat Sajak Trading Places

Considering these two have so much in common, fans are surely curious if the two are friends or merely peers. Frankly, we're sure plenty of people would be shocked and disappointed if they turned out to be foes. So what's the truth about Trebek and Sajak's relationship?

Sajak

Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak aren't exactly friends, but 'they're not enemies either'

Considering the fact that Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak are two of the most iconic game show hosts on television, you might think that they are buddies. Unfortunately, that's not exactly the case. The Week noted in April 2013 that the pair 'aren't friends,' but added that 'they're not enemies either.'

Are

Alex Trebek And Pat Sajak Trading Places

The Wheel of Fortune star explained the nature of their relationship to the outlet, saying, 'We get along fine, but we're not in the same bowling league.' Fair enough. Granted, we have to admit that we'd be thrilled if they did, indeed, lace up their bowling shoes each Thursday night to throw strikes and spares together.

Did Alex Trebek And Pat Sajak Switch Jobs

That being said, while they may never play casual sports together, Sajak was willing to send out a message of support when Trebek revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2019. At the time, Sajak tweeted (via USA Today) that he and his family were 'deeply saddened to hear of Alex Trebek's struggle with cancer.'

Alex Trebek And Pat Sajak Friends

'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,' Sajak continued. 'We, and the entire country, are pulling for you, Alex.'