In September of last year, Trebek first revealed the mental toll that cancer has had on him, saying that he sometimes feels a “surge of sadness” and “depression.” Despite feeling like a “burden,” he said his wife has helped him get through the toughest moments.
“She’s a saint,” said Trebek, choking up while describing Jean, his wife of 30 years. “She has so much goodness in her that she is always giving out, always putting out to help me get over difficult moments. And there have been some difficult moments. I’m just in awe of the way she handles it.”
In his interview, Trebek got candid about how often difficult moments come up both at home and at work. Also, the pain that keeps him up at night.
“I’m good at faking it,” he said. “There have been tough moments. And I don’t know what it is, but when it’s time to go, it’s time to go. Let’s do it. Get out there, suck it up, make it happen.”
One thing that seems to be helping him get through each day too is his love for the show.
“It’s something that I can’t explain intellectually. At a gut level, without even thinking about it, it just happens. I suddenly wake up and I’m able to perform and handle the show because I like it. It's a good job,” said Trebek, who has been hosting the show for 36 years and still has no plans of ever leaving.