Brayden Smith was a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion, who appeared on the show in some of Alex Trebek’s (1940–2020) last episodes.
- Died: February 5, 2021 (Who else died on February 5?)
- Details of death: Died in Las Vegas of complications from surgery at the age of 24.
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“Alex’s Last Great Champion”
Smith appeared on “Jeopardy!” six times in December 2020, winning handily in his first five appearances. A trivia whiz who was the captain of his high school’s quiz bowl team, Smith fulfilled a lifelong dream when he appeared on “Jeopardy!” He took home $115,798 over the course of his five wins. With his “Jeopardy!” appearances taped shortly before Trebek’s death and aired afterward, Smith earned the nickname “Alex’s Last Great Champion” as the last five-time winner to compete with Trebek at the show’s helm. A 2020 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Smith had studied economics and planned to go to law school.
Notable quote
“‘Jeopardy!’ is so much better than anything that I could have even imagined. Every moment since I last was on the studio lot has been a moment that I’ve been wanting to get back on there.” —from a January video released by “Jeopardy!”
Tributes to Brayden Smith
Full obituary: The New York Times
