Regis Philbin dies at 88

The New York Times

The TV icon who hosted ABC's Who Wants to be a Millionaire and co-hosted Live with Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa died Friday night at age 88. His family said he died of natural causes. Philbin, who started out as an NBC page, held the Guinness World Record for most hours on television with 16,746 in a career spanning 52 years that included his stint as sidekick on The Joey Bishop Show in the late 1960s. He broke the record in 2004 that was long held by Hugh Downs, who died earlier this month at age 99. "In a world of annoyances, Mr. Philbin was the indignant Everyman, under siege from all sides — by the damned computers, the horrible traffic, the inconsiderate people who were always late. There was no soap in the men’s room," Robert D. McFadden wrote in Philbin's New York Times obituary. "Hailing a cab was hopeless. Losing a wallet in a rental car? Fuhgeddaboudit! Even his own family was down on him for buying a chain saw! And was it possible, he wondered, to ask ever so softly in a crowded pharmacy where to find the Fleet enemas without the clerk practically shouting: 'Whaddaya want, buddy? A Fleet enema?'" Philbin's longtime Live co-host Kathie Lee Gifford paid tribute to "Reege" in an Instagram post, saying: "There are no words to fully express the love I have for my precious friend, Regis. I simply adored him and every day with him was a gift. We spent 15 years together bantering and bickering and laughing ourselves silly—a tradition and a friendship we shared up to this very day. I smile knowing somewhere in Heaven, at this very moment, he’s making someone laugh. It brings me great comfort knowing that he had a personal relationship with his Lord that brought him great peace." Gifford's Live successor Kelly Ripa also paid tribute, writing in a joint statement with co-host Ryan Seacrest: “We were beyond lucky to have him as a mentor in our careers and aspire every day to fill his shoes on the show. We send our deepest love and condolences to his family and hope they can find some comfort in knowing he left the world a better place.” Jimmy Kimmel, who so respected Regis that he hired his longtime (and recently departed) Jimmy Kimmel Live! executive producer Jill Leiderman in 2006 based on Philbin's recommendation, tweeted: "Regis was a great broadcaster, a good friend and a tremendous amount of fun. He leaves behind a beautiful family and a TV legacy that will likely go unmatched. Regis, I hope our friend Rickles met you at the pearly gates with open arms and a slew of the insults you loved so much." Earlier this year, Philbin visited the set of Kimmel's Millionaire revival. President Trump also paid tribute, tweeting: "One of the greats in the history of television, Regis Philbin has passed on to even greater airwaves, at 88. He was a fantastic person, and my friend. He kept telling me to run for President. Holds the record for “most live television”, and he did it well. Regis, we love you....And to Joy, his wonderful wife who he loved so much, my warmest condolences!!!" Philbin is survived by Joy Philbin, his second wife, who celebrated 50 years of marriage with Regis on March 1. He was married to Catherine "Kay" Faylen from 1955 to 1968, and had two children with her:  daughter Amy and son Danny, who died in 2014 at age 49 after living with a spinal cord defect that led to the amputation of both of his legs. Philbin is also survived by his two children with Joy: author Joanna Philbin and TV writer and Single Parents co-creator Jennifer "J.J." Philbin, and son-in-law and J.J.'s husband, The Good Place creator Michael Schur.

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• David Letterman remembers Regis Philbin, his most frequent Late Show guest with 150 appearances, and compares him to Johnny Carson: "Regis is in the same category as Carson," Letterman tweeted. "Superlative. He was on our show a million times, always the best guest we ever had, charming, lovable and could take a punch. When he retired I lost interest in television. I love him."
• Dana Carvey recalls trying to capture that "Regis persona" in his SNL impression of Philbin: "My life and Regis Philbin's life intersected in a whimsical way. Just when he became a big TV star I became a cast member on Saturday Night Live. I ended up doing an impression of him. Luckily he loved it," Carvey wrote in a tribute to his good friend Regis Philbin on Instagram. "Regis was a one of a kind talent. Boy was he funny. We talked one time about the 'Regis persona' he invented. He said it was just an exaggerated version of himself. What a wonderful character for me to play — rhythmically a brilliant creation. Regis was a man of the people. He never stopped appreciating becoming a huge star after the age of 50. To walk with Regis in New York City was an experience. New York loved him. 'HEY REGIS!'...'HOW YA DOING REGIS!?' And then to me, 'Can you believe it Kid? I'm the talk of the town!' He loved to play the underdog, hilariously complaining about getting the bad seat at some charity event. 'Brokaw always sits at the Big Boy Table!' It was a character we all could relate to. It worked because it was Regis. He was lovable. I once told him that I would put him up there with Johnny Carson as one of the all time great television personalities. He smiled, gave me a look, and said, 'There's only one Johnny Kid.' True, but there was also only one Regis."
• Philbin was on Letterman's first Late Show after the 9/11 attacks
• Watch Philbin's first Letterman appearance on Late Night in 1983
• Watch Letterman "bump" Regis off his show in 1989
• Watch Regis' final appearance with Letterman on The Late Show in 2015
• Former Letterman executive producer Rob Burnett said The Late Show nicknamed Regis "The Show Saver": "The guy could do anything you threw at him and make it work," tweeted Burnett. "For one simple reason: everyone loved him.  He will be missed."
• Look back at Regis' legendary career in pictures
• Robert Smigel remembers Dana Carvey's impersonation of Regis Philbin
• Read more celebrity reactions to Philbin's death, from Ellen DeGeneres to William Shatner to Adam Sandler
• Watch Regis as host of San Diego's That Regis Philbin Show in 1964
• Watch Donald Trump and Regis perform "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on Letterman to promote Philbin's 2005 Christmas album