Hollywood star of Ukrainian origin: the USA honors the memory of the host Alex Trebek

In the heart of Hollywood, on the Walk of Fame, the memory of the legendary American presenter Alex Trebek is honored. However, few Americans know that Alex was of Ukrainian descent. "Voice of America".

Photo: Shutterstock

Ukrainians in Los Angeles carry flowers and the Ukrainian flag to the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Among the standouts here is star Alex Trebek. The host of the popular US quiz show Jepardy - Take Risks! died on November 8 from pancreatic cancer.

Alex Trebek was born in Canada, Ontario, in 1942 in the family of French Canadian Lucille Legas and Ukrainian George Trebek.

“His last name was Terebeychuk, but it was shortened to Trebek because the Americans couldn’t pronounce it. His father was born in Ukraine, was a chef and did not speak English. Therefore, Alex Trebek had to know a little Ukrainian in order to communicate with him,” said Yuriy Vyginny, an American-born Ukrainian.

Alex worked in Canada as a presenter on public radio and television, in 1973 he moved to the United States and became the host of a game show on NBC. In 84, he starred in the pilot of Jepardy, a game show that required participants to have deep knowledge in various fields.

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It didn't take long before Jepardy began to be called an American icon. The television program received a record number of 17 Emmy awards, and Alex Trebek himself received 7 statuettes in the category of best presenter.

Photo: Shutterstock

Over the 36 years of hosting Jepardy, Alex has become like family to many generations of Americans.

Alex Trebek in a recent interview with ABC stated:

“I can’t tell you how many letters I get from young people who say they started watching Jepardy with their parents and will show the show to their children. This touches me deeply."

In 2011, Alex visited the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence.

“He talked about Ukraine, he remembered that he was Ukrainian,” said Lyubomir Soluk, a Ukrainian-American.

“He came in a cast, because before that he was in San Francisco and a thief broke into his hotel room. Alex then tore his ligaments, and even this did not stop him from coming to us,” said Yuri Vyginny.

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Despite the struggle with cancer, Alex continued to broadcast, and only 10 days before his death he stopped coming to the studio.

Despite COVID-19, hundreds of people visit his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame every day. Los Angeles Ukrainians say they will remember Alex Trebek not only as a presenter who knew all the correct answers.

“He never forgot the Ukrainian community, and, most importantly, he was the same in person as he was on the screen - very good, radiating positivity. For us, he is the best Ukrainian,” says Olga Starukh, an American of Ukrainian origin.

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