Brayden Smith, the last person to win Jeopardy! before longtime host Alex Trebek’s death, died at the age of 24.
The cause of Smith’s death is unclear. Smith’s mother, Debbie Smith, announced her son’s death Friday on Twitter, saying the family is “heartbroken” but that they are “so grateful that Brayden was able to live out his dream” on Jeopardy!.
“The JEOPARDY! family is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brayden Smith. He was kind, funny and absolutely brilliant. Our deepest condolences go out to Brayden’s family. He will be missed,” the game show’s Twitter account said in response to Debbie Smith’s post.
The JEOPARDY! family is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brayden Smith. He was kind, funny and absolutely brilliant. Our deepest condolences go out to Brayden’s family. He will be missed.
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) February 12, 2021
Smith’s five-game championship run was filmed in October 2020. Trebek, who hosted the popular show for more than three decades, died the following month at the age of 80 after battling cancer.
An obituary for Smith said that becoming a champion on Jeopardy! was a “lifelong dream” for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas graduate.
“His appearances were among the last hosted by Alex Trebek, and Brayden was hailed on social media as ‘Alex’s Last Great Champion,’” the obituary read. “He was looking forward to competing in the show’s Tournament of Champions.”
“He was a voracious reader and autodidact, a lover of knowledge and an advocate for justice,” the obituary read. “His room was bursting with books on political science, philosophy, economics and history. He recently served as an intern with the prestigious Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., where he researched criminal justice reform issues.”
A memorial fund has been set up “support students who share Brayden’s passion for learning.” The money raised will go toward helping students with scholarships, conference fees, seminar tuitions, research grants, school supplies, field trips, and more, his family said.
