'Jeopardy!' star Alex Trebek filmed a 'Free Guy' cameo, reveals Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds has paid a touching tribute to the late Alex Trebek, the iconic US game show host who was the face of Jeopardy! for more than 30 years.

Trebek died yesterday following a long battle with pancreatic cancer, at the age of 80.

Reynolds revealed in a tweet that Trebek had filmed a cameo role in his forthcoming action comedy movie Free Guy, describing the broadcaster as 'gracious and funny'.

Watch: Free Guy trailer

“Alex Trebek was kind enough to film a cameo for our film Free Guy last year despite his battle,” he wrote.

“He was gracious and funny. In addition to being curious, stalwart, generous, reassuring and of course, Canadian. We love you, Alex. And always will.”

The high-concept movie, reminiscent of The Truman Show meets Westworld, finds Reynolds discovering that he's a non-playable character in a video game.

Trebek appears briefly in the latest trailer for the movie, delivering a question on Reynolds' character on Jeopardy!, saying: “This character in the video game Free City has been turning heads by being the good guy.”

Born in Ontario, Trebek took on the role of the host of Jeopardy! after original presenter Art Fleming quit the show in 1984.

He went on to receive the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host seven times.

However, in March last year, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.

Initial treatment appeared to have been successful, and in May 2019 he revealed that he was in 'near remission'.

However, he had to resume chemotherapy just a few months later.

The show tweeted in tribute:

His last show will be broadcast on Christmas Day in the US.

Watch: Alex Trebek dies at 80