01of 11Regis Philbin’s Early YearsRegis Philbin.Walt Disney Television via Getty ImagesBorn and raised in the Bronx, Philbin was the son of Frank Philbin, a former Marine, and Francis Phiblin. Raised as a Roman Catholic, Philbin went on to graduate from University of Notre Dame in 1953 with a degree in sociology.During a 2015 visit to his alma mater, Philbin told Notre Dame’s student magazine that hegot the idea to attend the school from his father.“My father said, ‘You’re gonna go to Notre Dame. You got to go to Notre Dame.’ So I said, ‘Sure!'” Philbin recalled.
01of 11
Regis Philbin’s Early Years
Regis Philbin.Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Born and raised in the Bronx, Philbin was the son of Frank Philbin, a former Marine, and Francis Phiblin. Raised as a Roman Catholic, Philbin went on to graduate from University of Notre Dame in 1953 with a degree in sociology.
During a 2015 visit to his alma mater, Philbin told Notre Dame’s student magazine that hegot the idea to attend the school from his father.
“My father said, ‘You’re gonna go to Notre Dame. You got to go to Notre Dame.’ So I said, ‘Sure!'” Philbin recalled.
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Regis Philbin in the Navy
Regis Philbin on set of The Regis Philbin Show with Zsa Zsa Gabor.Paul DrinkwaterNBC/NBCU Photo Bank
After graduation, Philbin enrolled in the Navy and served for two years.
“I told him, ‘What I’d like to do is go into television but I don’t know if I have any talent or what I could do,'” Philbin toldNPRin 2011. “He said, ‘Well, what do you mean? Don’t you know you can have anything you want in this life if you only want it bad enough?’ "
03of 11Regis Philbin Joins NBCRegis Philbin (left) and Joey Bishop in 1968.Getty ImagesPhilbin got his startworking as an NBC pagein 1955. “My first assignment was to go down to the set ofTonight!,” he previously told PEOPLE. “I looked at Steve Allen playing the piano, making jokes. Everyone was beautiful and talented. I thought, ‘What am I doing here? What can I do in this business?’ “He went on to work as a broadcaster for several years and began hosting his first talk show,The Regis Philbin Showin 1961.His big break came after he became the sidekick onThe Joey Bishop Showin the late 1960s, introducing him to a network audience.
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Regis Philbin Joins NBC
Regis Philbin (left) and Joey Bishop in 1968.Getty Images
Philbin got his startworking as an NBC pagein 1955. “My first assignment was to go down to the set ofTonight!,” he previously told PEOPLE. “I looked at Steve Allen playing the piano, making jokes. Everyone was beautiful and talented. I thought, ‘What am I doing here? What can I do in this business?’ "
He went on to work as a broadcaster for several years and began hosting his first talk show,The Regis Philbin Showin 1961.
His big break came after he became the sidekick onThe Joey Bishop Showin the late 1960s, introducing him to a network audience.
04of 11Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford Join ForcesRegis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford in 1994.Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesPhilbin first teamed up with Kathie Lee Gifford in 1985, when they were paired up to hostThe Morning Show— which would eventually be renamed toLive! with Regis and Kathie Lee.The pair’s chemistry was a big hit with audiences, and they continued to broadcast together on the show until 2000 when she left the show.
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Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford Join Forces
Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford in 1994.Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Philbin first teamed up with Kathie Lee Gifford in 1985, when they were paired up to hostThe Morning Show— which would eventually be renamed toLive! with Regis and Kathie Lee.The pair’s chemistry was a big hit with audiences, and they continued to broadcast together on the show until 2000 when she left the show.
05of 11Regis Philbin and Kelly RipaRegis Philbin and Kelly Ripa in 2001.Spencer Platt/NewsmakersPhilbin stayed on the program for over a decade, sharing hosting duties withKelly Ripa, who was announced as Gifford’s official replacement in 2001.Philbin also hosted ABC’s hit game showWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?
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Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa in 2001.Spencer Platt/Newsmakers
Philbin stayed on the program for over a decade, sharing hosting duties withKelly Ripa, who was announced as Gifford’s official replacement in 2001.
Philbin also hosted ABC’s hit game showWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?
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Regis Philbin’s Health Issues
Regis Philbin on set of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?.Maria Melin/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
“I had been feeling chest pains, you know, and shortness of breath and all those little symptoms that you hear about,” he told aLive! with Regis and Kellystudio audience that March.
07of 11Regis Philbin Leaves Live!Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa in 2011.David Russell/Walt Disney Television via Getty ImagesAfter 28 years, Philbin announced in 2011 that he wasleavingLive!“Everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people,” he quipped at the time.“Some people ask, ‘Why has the show stayed on so long?’ " he said during hisfinal November broadcast. “People tell me why they watch it … because it makes them feel better. And it can’t get any better than that. It makes them happy.“According to ABC News, Philbin set a Guinness World Record for most on-camera hours in 2004 while hosting the show, with a total of 15,188.
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Regis Philbin Leaves Live!
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa in 2011.David Russell/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
After 28 years, Philbin announced in 2011 that he wasleavingLive!
“Everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people,” he quipped at the time.
“Some people ask, ‘Why has the show stayed on so long?’ " he said during hisfinal November broadcast. “People tell me why they watch it … because it makes them feel better. And it can’t get any better than that. It makes them happy.”
According to ABC News, Philbin set a Guinness World Record for most on-camera hours in 2004 while hosting the show, with a total of 15,188.
08of 11Regis Philbin’s Television HonorsRegis Philbin.Throughout the course of his impressive career, Philbin received many accolades, including aLifetime Achievement Awardfrom the DaytimeEmmy Awardsin 2008.He was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame in 2006 and was even given akey to New York Cityin 2011.
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Regis Philbin’s Television Honors
Regis Philbin.
Throughout the course of his impressive career, Philbin received many accolades, including aLifetime Achievement Awardfrom the DaytimeEmmy Awardsin 2008.
He was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame in 2006 and was even given akey to New York Cityin 2011.
09of 11Regis Philbin’s Personal LifeRegis Philbin and wife Joy in 2006.Michael Loccisano/FilmMagicPhilbin was married to wife Joy for 50 years, and the pair had two children: daughters Joanna and J.J. Philbin, who works as a Hollywood writer and producer and is married toThe OfficewriterMichael Schur.He was previously married to Catherine Faylen from 1955-1968. They had two children: son Daniel, whodiedin 2015 at the age of 49, and daughter Amy.
09of 11
Regis Philbin’s Personal Life
Regis Philbin and wife Joy in 2006.Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic
Philbin was married to wife Joy for 50 years, and the pair had two children: daughters Joanna and J.J. Philbin, who works as a Hollywood writer and producer and is married toThe OfficewriterMichael Schur.
He was previously married to Catherine Faylen from 1955-1968. They had two children: son Daniel, whodiedin 2015 at the age of 49, and daughter Amy.
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Regis Philbin’s Later Years
Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee Gifford.NBC
Over the years, Philbin shared the screen with Gifford after herLive!departure.
In addition to occasionally filling in as guest host of theTodayshow, Philbin also shared aspecial video messagelast year, in honor of Gifford’s final broadcast.
“I want you to know how I will always remember the great times that we had working together and how you are as a person: just great,” he added
11of 11Regis Philbin’s Final YearsRegis Philbin and wife Joy in 2020.Michael Kovac/Getty ImagesPhilbin made his final television appearance earlier in 2020, inSingle Parents— an ABC sitcom his daughter served as a co-creator and executive producer for.“It’s such a thrill to have him on my show after years and years of being a guest on his show and I hope he has as much fun on our set as I did on his growing up.” J.J. toldEntertainment Tonightin April.The longtime television host died on July 24 of that year, PEOPLE confirmed.“His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him – for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about,” his family shared with PEOPLE in a statement. “We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss.”
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Regis Philbin’s Final Years
Regis Philbin and wife Joy in 2020.Michael Kovac/Getty Images
Philbin made his final television appearance earlier in 2020, inSingle Parents— an ABC sitcom his daughter served as a co-creator and executive producer for.
“It’s such a thrill to have him on my show after years and years of being a guest on his show and I hope he has as much fun on our set as I did on his growing up.” J.J. toldEntertainment Tonightin April.
The longtime television host died on July 24 of that year, PEOPLE confirmed.
“His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him – for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about,” his family shared with PEOPLE in a statement. “We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss.”
source: people.com
