Regis Philbin, American TV host died
Regis Philbin, American TV host dies of natural causes at age of 88, Hollywood reporter confirmed.
American TV host Regis Philbin, who logged more hours in front of the camera than anyone else in the history of US television on shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire, has died aged 88.
According to his familyPhilbin died of natural causes, , one month before his 89th birthday.
Guinness World Records listed Philbin as having put in about 17,000 hours on television
He was paid $28 million a year in 2000, the most ever for a game-show host.
“His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him for his warmth, his legendary sense of humour, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about,” the statement said.
“We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss.”
Philbin was known for his rough edges, funny anecdotes, self-deprecating humour and a Bronx accent that was once described as sounding “like a racetrack announcer with a head cold.”
Watch @KathieLGifford’s full interview remembering the late Regis Philbin, her friend and longtime co-host. https://t.co/7TpgakMPzu
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 27, 2020
American comedian and late-night host David Letterman, a long-time friend, called Philbin the funniest man on television.
Philbin, known to fans as “Reeg”, was a fixture on various local and national shows for half a century with co-hosts including Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa.
He hosted Who Wants to be a Millionaire when it debuted in the US in 1999, as well as other game shows.
Guinness World Records listed him as having put in more time on camera than anyone else in the history of US television — about 17,000 hours.
Philbin was perhaps best known as the host of the nationally syndicated talk show, Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee. It started in 1988, and became Live! with Regis and Kelly in 2001, running until 2011.
Philbin first made a name for himself in the 1960s with his own show on local TV in San Diego and then as a sidekick to comedian Joey Bishop on another program.
His biggest success came in the various incarnations of his nationally syndicated morning talk show that began in 1983 when he created The Morning Show for WABC in his native New York City.
After two co-hosts came and went, singer Gifford joined him in a highly successful collaboration in 1985, and in 1988 the program gained national syndication.
Gifford was his co-host for 15 years before Philbin was partnered with former soap opera actress Ripa for 11 years. Ripa remained as host of the show after Philbin departed.
“I think he is the world’s greatest storyteller … that’s his gift,” Ripa said in 2011.
In 2001, he won a Daytime Emmy award as outstanding talk show host and claimed another Emmy for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
He also received a lifetime achievement Daytime Emmy award in 2008.
Philbin, who was born into an Irish-Catholic family in New York City, dealt with heart problems during his career and underwent triple-bypass surgery in 2007 at the age of 75.
Philbin married his second wife, Joy, in 1970 and remained married the rest of his life.
She sometimes co-hosted his national talk show with him when Gifford or Ripa were absent.
Regis Philbin art by TCArtist
