Regis Philbin, TV Host With the Most Congenial Demeanor, Dies at 88

[NurseJackie]

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

He presided over live morning shows for four decades, emceed 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' and served as Joey Bishop's late-night sidekick. Regis Philbin, the indefatigable and downright neighborly host of talk shows and game shows who spent more time in front of a television camera than anyone else, has died. He was 88.

Philbin died of natural causes according to a family statement, PEOPLE reported on Saturday. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Philbin's representatives for comment.

Unfailingly perky and personable during his 60-plus years in show business, Philbin hosted live morning programs from Los Angeles and New York from the early 1970s through 2011, sharing cups of coffee and flipping through the morning papers alongside the likes of Ruta Lee, Sarah Purcell, Cyndy Garvey, Mary Hart, Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa.

Like Jack Paar before him, Philbin engaged his audience with tales about his personal life and the seemingly mundane events of his day. Philbin made his mark in primetime as host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, helping transform ratings-laggard ABC into the No. 1 network in 1999-2000 by drawing audiences of 30 million to a game show that aired three and then five times a week.

Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/regis-philbin-dead-host-morning-shows-who-wants-be-a-millionaire-was-88-1126718

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[OnlinePoker]

1. Never seemed pretentious despite his fame.

[hlthe2b]

4. Yes... that made him even more likeable. Hard working guy, too.

RIP, Regis (i'll even forego any snide Kathy Lee Gifford comments, who, I'm sure is mourning your passing too)

[PSPS]

2. I remember him walking off his sidekick role on "The Joey Bishop Show" live on the air

It was in July 1968. I can't find a clip, but here's Regis talking about it

[IcyPeas]

3. he was always available for David Letterman too

at the drop of a hat. that's really the only place I ever saw him.

RIP

[George II]

5. He and Letterman were very close for decades.

[BComplex]

6. I know. I'll bet David Letterman is heart broken over Regis' passing.

It's so hard to lose a friend who has been in your life for many decades.

[BHDem53]

14. He was Dave's most

frequent guest. He could always be counted on to fill in when there was a guest cancellation or to do the Top Ten List or just a cameo in one of the skits. That is a real buddy. Rest in peace, Mr. Philbin.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

17. The day David Letterman had his heart attack/hospitalization for heart surgery...

... CBS called Regis and informed him of the situation and would he come in to host the show tonight? Regis told them you bet, "what time do you want me to show up"?

[Skittles]

7. he just seemed so LIKEABLE

yes indeed

[yuiyoshida]

13. agreed....more Likeable than

some Celebrities we know ...ahem.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Just heard on my local news radio station

Didn't realize his age (although I knew he had been around for awhile). But then time flies and he was a year younger than my mom. All the 1930s "Depression babies".

R.I.P.

[jorgevlorgan]

10. I definitely felt like he was much younger!

[NurseJackie]

11. In my mind, he'll always be young and energetic.

[jorgevlorgan]

9. That sucks.

May he go where good, kind and humble people go when they pass.

[Aristus]

12. He must have surpassed Hugh Downs.

I read somewhere once that Hugh Downs accumulated more on-air hours than any other television personality. I guess Reege beat his record.

[Polybius]

15. I had no idea he was that old

RIP.

[Mosby]

16. He seemed like a really nice guy

RIP.

[Dukkha]

18. Of course the narcississtic scumbag Twitler makes it about himself

"He kept telling me to run for President."

Just FUCKING SHUT UP ALREADY!!!

[Beartracks]

19. R.I.P. Regis

========

[dalton99a]

20. R.I.P.

[SayItLoud]

21. I worked with him on a long forgotten daytime series; The Neighbors.

He was as so many here have posted. Kind, engaging, honest and "one of the good guys" in Hollywood/NY. RIP Reeg.

[NurseJackie]

22. Wow... that's wonderful that you knew him.

I always "felt-like" I knew him... he'd been a part of our lives (in some form or another) for so many years... always there... just like family.

[wheelinanddealin]

23. RIP

RIP