"Jeopardy!" Contestant Dies Before Episode Airs
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AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) - An upcoming episode of "Jeopardy!" will include a special contestant who is no longer around to see her appearance on the hit television game show. Cindy Stowell's lifelong dream came true this summer, when producers asked her to participate in the trivia competition.
However, the Austin resident died on Monday, just over a week before her episode is scheduled to air.
Stowell played on "Jeopardy!" while she was battling Stage 4 cancer. At the time, only a select few of the show's staff members and host Alex Trebek were aware of her condition. Stowell's two opponents had no clue that she was facing a greater adversary outside of the game.
Since the start of her TV adventure, Stowell had planned to donate any winnings to cancer-related organizations. "Cindy came on 'Jeopardy!' to play the game she loved," her family members explained in a statement. "In doing so, she was able to make a contribution to cancer research, in hopes that no one else would have to go through what she did."
The amount of Stowell's prize money will be revealed in her episode.
After passing the online contestant test earlier this year, Stowell was invited to an in-person audition in Oklahoma City. At the time, she asked producer Maggie Speak, "Do you have any idea how long it typically takes between an in-person interview and the taping date? I ask because I just found out that I don't have too much longer to live."
Doctors had given Stowell about six months to live. "If it is unlikely that the turnaround time would be that quick, then I'd like to give up my tryout spot to someone else," she told Speak. Stowell was scheduled for an episode taping just three weeks later, on August 31.
But several months come between an episode's taping and television debut. Stowell's appearance will be seen by the nation on December 13. She was not quite able to hold on that long. "Our condolences and best wishes to her family and friends," Trebek said. New episodes of "Jeopardy!" can be seen weeknights at 6:00 p.m. on TXA 21.
