Alex Trebek Says He's "Nearing the End" of His Life

Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek has been remarkably candid about his health ever since being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March, and in a new interview with Canadian news anchor Lisa La Flamme, he revealed that he is “nearing the end” of his life and that he’s not afraid of dying.

“One thing they’re not gonna say at my funeral during a eulogy is ‘he was taken from us too soon,’” Trebek said. “I’m 79 years old. I’ve lived a full life, a good life, and I’m nearing the end of that life. I know that. I’m not gonna delude myself. If it happens, it happens. Why should I be afraid of that?”

The host revealed that the immunotherapy he received “didn’t do diddly squat,” and after his remission in May, his cancer came back in numbers 50 percent higher than his original diagnosis. But while he admits that sores in his mouth from the chemotherapy have made it difficult to enunciate properly and “there will come a point when they [fans and producers] will no longer be able to say, ‘It’s okay’” and he’ll have to step down from Jeopardy!, for now at least, he’s able to continue filming the show.

“There are weaknesses I feel in my body, but I can always suck it up when it comes to tape the show,” he said.

Ultimately, Trebek says, he’s prepared for whatever lies ahead. “We’ll play it by ear and just keep chunking along until we either win or lose,” he said.

You can watch his full interview below.