A 24-year-old, Five-time Jeopardy! Champion, Brayden Smith, whose death was just confirmed by his family. According to a local CBS affiliate in his hometown of Las Vegas, Brayden Smith underwent surgery for an unidentified ailment in the days leading up to his death on February 5th.
KLAS quotes a Smith family source in its article on Brayden Smith‘s latest operation. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Jeopardy! contestant nicknamed “Billy Buzzsaw” by presenter Alex Trebek spent many days in a Southern Nevada hospital before dying. Any news organization did not disclose Brayden Smith’s sickness and operation.
On social media, Brayden Smith is referred to be Trebek’s “final great champion” since he filmed his episodes in October, just before Trebek died on November 8. Smith won more than $115,000 in the episodes, which aired in December. Smith featured in a Jeopardy! video tribute to Trebek the following month, claiming that spending time with the legendary game show host was his favorite part of the program.
Last Friday, Brayden Smith’s mother, Debbie Smith, revealed her son’s death. She afterward expressed her thanks for the numerous condolences she had received.
“The outpouring of love for Brayden is overwhelming,” she tweeted. “We can’t express how much your beautiful comments are comforting us during this painfully sad time. Thank you.”
The outpouring of love for Brayden is overwhelming. We can’t express how much your beautiful comments are comforting us during this painfully sad time. Thank you. ❤️
— Debbie Smith (@debbieinlv) February 13, 2021
