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Alex Trebek Wheel Of Fortune

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Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White shared a heartbreaking tribute to the late Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek on Instagram. Trebek died Sunday morning at age 80, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. White included a collection of photos with Trebek and her Wheel of Fortune co-host Pat Sajak, who also mourned the loss of Trebek on Twitter Sunday.

'I will cherish the many memories I have shared with Alex Trebek that date back well before either of our careers took off,' White wrote on Instagram. '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. My heart is with his family, friends, co-workers, and fans. There will never be another Alex Trebek and he will truly be missed.'

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Trebek became close friends with the Wheel of Fortune hosts, as the shows aired back-to-back in many markets and were both produced by Sony. After Trebek announced his cancer diagnosis in March 2019, White told Closer Weekly she was supporting her friend 100 percent. 'We've known each other for over 30 years, of course,' she said in May 2019. Both Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak have, incredibly, been hosts of their programs for nearly forty years. Trebek began his hosting duties in 1984, while Sajak became host of Wheel of Fortune a few years earlier in 1981. The April Fools 1997 episode of Wheel Of Fortune in which Alex Trebek (Jeopardy! Host) hosts with Leslie Sajak (Pat Sajack's wife) as the hostess. Pat and Vanna White are the contestants on this episode here as they win money for their selected charities. Wheel of Fortune (C) Sony Pictures Television (formerly Columbia-TriStar Television).

Hundreds of White's followers also sent their condolences and shared their memories of Trebek. 'A great role model. So very sad,' one person wrote. 'He fought the hard fight. May he RIP. God bless,' another fan wrote. 'I'm so sad! Sorry for your loss!' added another Instagram user. 'He will never be forgotten. A true gentleman. A wonderful human being. We miss you, sir,' another Jeopardy! fan wrote.

Sajak, who has hosted the syndicated version of Wheel of Fortune with White since 1983, praised Trebek for his 'courage, grace and strength,' which 'inspired millions' and 'awed' those who knew him. 'A tremendous loss for his family, friends, co-workers, and countless viewers,' Sajak wrote on Twitter. 'I was honored to be a friend and a part of his professional family for all these years. A very sad day.'

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Trebek became close friends with the Wheel of Fortune hosts, as the shows aired back-to-back in many markets and were both produced by Sony. After Trebek announced his cancer diagnosis in March 2019, White told Closer Weekly she was supporting her friend 100 percent. 'We've known each other for over 30 years, of course,' she said in May 2019. 'And even though he's on a different show, we're still the same family so I'm there and supporting him and praying for him.' When Trebek celebrated his 80th birthday in July, White shared a throwback photo of the two together. 'Lots of memories with this longtime pal,' she wrote.

Trebek is survived by his wife Jean and children Matthew, Emily, and Nicky. He filmed episodes through Oct. 29, just 10 days before his death. His final episode will air on Dec. 25.

Two of the most highly successful game shows of all time on the air right now are Jeopardy!, hosted by Alex Trebek, and Wheel of Fortune, with Pat Sajak at the helm.

Both men have been at the front of their respective shows for nearly forty years, an astounding length of time.

So, are these contemporaries just industry colleagues, or good friends?

Both hosts had health issues in 2019

Sajak had emergency surgery for a blocked intestine in November 2019. The show issued a statement at that time via Twitter saying, 'Our taping on Thursday was canceled because host Pat Sajak underwent successful emergency surgery to correct a blocked intestine. He is resting comfortably and looking forward to getting back to work.'

The 73-year-old Sajak returned to his post earlier this year.

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As for Alex Trebek, as is well known, the Jeopardy! host's news of his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March 2019 shocked and saddened his fans and viewers. As of March 2020, Trebek's doctors were thrilled to mark his one-year survival. The Canadian-born Trebek issued a statement thanking fans for their steadfast support.

'You know my oncologist tried to cheer me up the other day,' Trebek said. 'He said, ‘Alex, even though the two-year survival rate is only 7%,' he was certain that one year from now, the two of us would be sitting in his office celebrating my second anniversary of survival.'

Did Wheel Of Fortune Honor Alex Trebek

Both have been hosts of their respective shows for almost 4 decades

Both Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak have, incredibly, been hosts of their programs for nearly forty years. Trebek began his hosting duties in 1984, while Sajak became host of Wheel of Fortune a few years earlier in 1981.

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Sajak talked to the Television Academy Foundation in a 2007 interview about the appeal of his game show, co-hosted by Vanna White, which millions of viewers have made part of their daily ritual.

RELATED: ‘Jeopardy!' Host Alex Trebek Worried He Might Win a Daytime Emmy

'We became in this strange way part of people's lives, almost their life cycle,' Sajak said. 'It was dinner time, they played ‘Wheel' – we just became part of the atmosphere. It's kind of like the sunset: you might not go out and watch it every night, but it's nice to know it's out there.'

Are Pat Sajak and Alex Trebek friends?

Wheel Of Fortune Tribute

As friendly as the two game show hosts are, according to The Week in a 2013 conversation with Sajak, the men aren't particularly close.

In the interview, the Chicago-born Sajak briefly opened up about whether he and fellow television personality Alex Trebek are close.

In typical Sajak style, the Wheel host explained their relationship succinctly with a humorous twist.

'We get along fine,' Sajak said of the Jeopardy! icon, 'but we're not in the same bowling league.'

1997 Alex Trebek Wheel Of Fortune

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Pat Sajak Jeopardy

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