Mattea Roach opens up about personal tragedy while filming 'Jeopardy!'
Trivia champion Mattea Roach opened up about a sudden family tragedy while filming an episode of “Jeopardy!” earlier this month.
On May 2, Philip Henry Roach, Mattea’s father, died at 57 years old of a brain aneurysm at home in Halifax, according to his obituary.
During Tuesday night’s episode of “Jeopardy! Masters,” the 24-year-old spoke candidly about their father’s death when host Ken Jennings about what their most prized possession was.
The prized possession? Philip Roach’s denim jacket, which is now – as Roach puts it – on permanent loan.
“He’s a huge part of the reason why I’m here,” Roach said, adding their father instilled in them an early love of geography, Turner Classic Movies, and old music, among other things.
Roach continued to say it was actually on the Jeopardy! set when they received news of the death.
“Everyone who was at production, my fellow contestants, I could not have asked for better support going through, what is, the worst day of my life pretty much so far,” Roach said.
“Everyone who made sure that I did not have to continue playing and was able to go home, and be with my mom and my brothers. My whole family is so thankful for everyone here at Jeopardy! for helping us through that really difficult time,” they added, appearing to fight back tears on air.
In response, Jennings extended his condolences to Mattea and their family.
“Speaking as a dad, I can only guess at how proud he must have been of you, and I’m so glad he had the chance to see you play,” Jennings said.
Canadian Mattea Roach appears in an episode of Jeopardy! in a handout photo. “Jeopardy!” contestant Roach, the 23-year-old patron saint of Canadian nerds, has cracked the Top 10 list for most consecutive regular season wins.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Jeopardy Productions, Inc.
Continuing the conversation on Twitter, Roach said the first seven episodes of the Masters series were filmed before he died, adding he was in the studio to see the fourth episode – “So he knew it was going well-ish for me.”
“Everything I am doing on TV this week is for him,” Roach tweeted, accompanied by a photo of Philip Roach with his Reach for the Top team photo.
Roach, who lives in Toronto, will be on the final round of “Jeopardy! Masters” on Wednesday night, which airs on CTV2.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Nanos survey says most Canadians support expansion of Old Age Security benefits, but economic experts call it 'terrible policy'
Amid new polling indicating most Canadians support boosting Old Age Security benefits by 10 per cent for seniors aged 65 to 74, a former Liberal finance minister and former Bank of Canada governor are warning the government not to pursue the policy change.
'You were innocent': Judge acquits Manitoba man 50 years after murder conviction
A Manitoba man convicted of murder 50 years ago has been acquitted. Clarence Woodhouse was found guilty in 1974 of fatally beating and stabbing a restaurant worker in downtown Winnipeg.
Health official confirms death of Ontario child following rabies diagnosis
An Ontario child has died after coming in contact with a rabid bat, a health official confirmed on Wednesday.
Los Angeles prosecutors to review new evidence in Menendez brothers' 1996 murder conviction
Prosecutors in Los Angeles are reviewing new evidence in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez to determine whether they should be serving life sentences for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago, the city's district attorney said Thursday.
Garth Brooks accused of rape in lawsuit from hair-and-makeup artist
A woman who says she worked as a hair-and-makeup stylist for Garth Brooks alleged in a lawsuit filed Thursday that he raped her in a Los Angeles hotel in 2019.
Melania Trump says she supports abortion rights, putting her at odds with the GOP
Melania Trump revealed her support for abortion rights Thursday ahead of the release of her upcoming memoir, exposing a stark contrast with her husband, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, on the crucial election issue.
Parliament 'ground to a halt' over Conservative allegations of Liberal corruption
Government business has been put on indefinite pause in the House of Commons and the Conservatives say it will stay that way until the Liberals hand over documents related to misspent government dollars.
Breast cancer patient says she had to lie to get a mammogram in Ontario
When an Ontario doctor refused to sign off on a mammogram for 38-year-old Sidra Lone, the mother of four says she was left with no choice but to lie.
184 passengers and crew evacuated as Ryanair Boeing plane catches fire on runway in Italy
More than 180 people were evacuated Thursday from a Ryanair Boeing passenger jet after it caught fire while taxiing to take off at Brindisi Airport in southern Italy.