Over the years, many contestants on Jeopardy! have left an impression on viewers. Recently, tragic news has come out that one fan-favorite from the show has passed away. They were 52 at the time of their death.
A Family Member Described The Jeopardy! Contestant In A Lengthy Post
The former Jeopardy! player passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025, in Holland, Michigan. They were 52 at the time of their death.
News of the contestant’s passing was shared by both a local funeral home and by members of his family on social media. At the time, it was shared that appearing on the famous game show was a life long dream for the contestant.
Series alum Ben Scripps won twice on the show back in 2020. He had won $18,000 during his first appearance. This came out during Alex Trebek’s last year as the game show’s host. The following day, he earned $19,358, earning a total of $38,158. He lost the following day to Nathan Berger.
According to his obituary, Ben “had a lifelong dream to be on Jeopardy!” He was born Gordon Benjamin Scripps in Cadillac, Michigan. He studied broadcasting at Central Michigan University and worked at a local CBS station.
In a post on Instagram, Ben’s brother Bubba Mack shared that the Jeopardy! alum passed away after battling cancer. He shared, “In his final days, the nurses and doctors would all say, ‘Wow, you’re a Jeopardy! champion, you must be really smart.’”
A Tribute Post Featured Ben Scripps Appearing With Various Celebrities
The carousel post featured various photos of Ben. He could also be seen alongside various big names, like Alex Trebek and “Weird Al” Yankovic.
Mack continued the post, writing about his support for the hospital staff, “He would reply with, ‘Nope just good at trivia, you’re a nurse (or doc). You’re the smart one in the room.’
“While he hated being in the hospital, he could not stop singing the praises of all the nurses who cared for him. Using energy that he just didn’t have to let them know how much he appreciated them.”
“Ben lived his life on his terms and knew exactly who he was… and he was terrific! Simply the most kind, caring, gentle, and forgiving person I’ve ever known. I had the chance to ask him if he was scared and he thought about for a good while (I swear I heard the Jeopardy! theme) and then said, ‘No, because whatever is next is either nothing or it’s better.’”
Towards the end, Mack ended his post with a tribute to the game show that meant a lot to his brother. He continued, “I’ll take the best brother ever for $2,000, please, Alex. This Cadillac news director was the best of the human race and will be missed greatly by anyone who knew him.’ Who was Ben Scripps 12/25/72 – 9/20/25.”
Did you watch Ben Scripps during his time as a Jeopardy! contestant? What is your reaction to this story? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
