Actor Ryan Reynolds recently shared details of his last conversation with Jeopardy!‘s Alex Trebek. The beloved host of the program passed away on November 8 at the age of 80. Trebek revealed his diagnosis of stage IV pancreatic cancer in March of 2019. Throughout his illness, he kept fans and Jeopardy! viewers appraised of his prognosis. Remarkably, Trebek continued hosting the long-running game show until less than two weeks prior to his death. He also kept on amid the coronavirus pandemic, which forced changes on the show, including social distancing for contestants. Trebek’s final episode of Jeopardy! will air on Christmas Day, but executive producer Mike Richards provided a moving tribute to the host during the first episode after his death.
Since Trebek’s passing, fans, celebrities, and those who knew him have come forward with moving tributes to the TV personality. SNL writer Steve Higgins discussed Trebek’s feelings about the show’s Jeopardy! parodies, revealing Trebek “loved” them. Jean, Trebek’s wife of many years, posted a sweet photo of her and her husband where she thanked all for their kind messages. Additionally, Reynolds shared Trebek will appear in his upcoming Free Guy movie, as the host filmed a cameo last year. In his post, Reynolds spoke warmly of Trebek, calling him “gracious and funny.”
Now, Reynolds has come forward with another anecdote about Trebek, recalling their last conversation in an interview with Extra. Reynolds revealed he talked to Trebek over the phone two months ago, calling it “amazing then just like that he was gone.” Reynold went on to share the details of their last talk:
It was a conversation about one of the shows he had coming up. I had been on the show a number of times, he was asking me about perhaps coming on again. I was shooting in Atlanta and was unable to do it… When you speak with people like that that you grew up watching and suddenly you are talking to them on the phone, you start to reflect…You just never know; tomorrow is not a given. Hug them tight, the people in your life. It was really shocking and sad. Obviously, he was sick and it wasn’t totally, wildly unexpected. It’s still heartbreaking nonetheless. It’s absolutely gut-wrenching.
Though it may not seem like Trebek and Reynolds have much in common, their relationship speaks to how universally beloved the Jeopardy! host was. Though he took his job incredibly seriously, he also was known to tease contestants or make funny comments about the clues. Trebek also showed his strong sense of humor and ability to make fun of himself with many appearances on TV shows and movies over the years. It’s likely Reynolds’ Free Guy will be another one of these and hopefully provide Trebek’s fans with another fun cameo to revisit, even after his passing.
It’s clear from Reynolds’ description of their phone call that, despite his own star power, speaking to a TV giant like Trebek was not lost on him. It shows the enormous respect Hollywood at large had for the Jeopardy! host and his impact on the world of entertainment. Thanks to people like Reynolds, as well as Trebek’s family, friends, and fans, his name won’t soon be forgotten.
Source: Extra
Originally from https://screenrant.com/ryan-reynolds-alex-trebek-last-conversation/