Ryan Reynolds reflects on his ‘amazing’ last call with Alex Trebek

Everyone from Burbank, California, where Jeopardy is filmed, to Sudbury, Ontario, where he was born, is still reeling from the loss of Canadian icon Alex Trebek, who tragically passed earlier this month after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old. Still feeling that loss is another Canadian star, actor Ryan Reynolds, who was friends with Trebek. Now, he’s reflecting on the last time they spoke on the phone, and how this loss weighs heavy.“I was talking with Alex on the phone two months ago,” he said via video-chat to Extra on Monday. “And that was amazing. And just like that he's gone.” “It was really, really shocking and sad,” he continued.  “And obviously he's sick and it wasn't totally wildly unexpected, but it's still heartbreaking nonetheless. It's absolutely gut-wrenching.”Having previously filmed a cameo in Ryan’s upcoming sci-fi film Free Guy, he revealed that the convo was actually about him making a return appearance on Jeopardy, something he’s done in the past.

Alex Trebek was kind enough to film a cameo for our film Free Guy last year despite his battle. He was gracious and funny. In addition to being curious, stalwart, generous, reassuring and of course, Canadian. We love you, Alex. And always will.

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) November 8, 2020

“It was a conversation about one of the shows he had coming up. I've been on the show a number of times and he was asking me about perhaps coming on again, and I was shooting in Atlanta and I was unable to do it,” he said. “But I did get to speak with him which is always a privilege and a pleasure.”Ryan, like most of us, grew up watching Alex inspire awe and wonder as the magnificent host of Jeopardy for 35 years, and how his passing is something that will be felt by everyone who let Alex into their living rooms every evening.[video_embed id='2075369']RELATED: Alex Trebek’s wife shares a throwback photo & thanks fans[/video_embed]“When you're speaking with people like that, that you grew up watching, and suddenly you're talking to them on the phone you start to reflect  [. . .] It forces you to look around a little bit and see the people and the faces that are in our lives every day, and really, remember not to taking them for granted.”“You just never know,” he added. “Tomorrow is not a given. Hug them tight-- the people in your life.”Trebek was honoured by Jeopardy with a tribute at the beginning of the first episode that aired after his passing. With fans and celebs all reacting to his death, Ryan also was one of the first to pay tribute to the late, great host, tweeting, “Alex Trebek was kind enough to film a cameo for our film Free Guy last year despite his battle. He was gracious and funny. In addition to being curious, stalwart, generous, reassuring and of course, Canadian. We love you, Alex. And always will.”[video_embed id='2073650']RELATED: 'Jeopardy!' executive producer takes the stage to honour Alex Trebek[/video_embed]