Na-diagnose with stage 4 pancreatic cancer si Trebek noong March 2019 habang nagsisimula pa lang ang 36th season ng Jeopardy.         Bago dumaan sa isang procedure si Trebek, nasabi niya ay: “I’m going to fight this. I’m going to keep working and with the love and support of my family and friends and your prayers also, I plan to beat the low survival rate.”