Stars including Hoda Kotb and Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to Regis Philbin, who died on Friday, July 24, at the age of 88.
Kotb, who anchored the fourth hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford for more than decade until 2019, tweeted a message on Saturday, July 25, shortly after news broke of the TV legend’s passing.
“Heartbroken. We will miss you regis,” Kotb captioned a photo of Philbin and Gifford, his former Live With Regis and Kathie Lee cohost.
“Regis was a great broadcaster, a good friend and a tremendous amount of fun,” Kimmel tweeted. “He leaves behind a beautiful family and a TV legacy that will likely go unmatched. Regis, I hope our friend [Don] Rickles met you at the pearly gates with open arms and a slew of the insults you loved so much.”
Philbin, who began his TV career in 1961 with a talk show in San Diego, set a Guinness World Record for Most Hours on Camera in 2004, with his Twitter feed proclaiming, “17,000 hours on TV and counting, just try and stop me!”
In addition to hosting Live with Gifford and later Kelly Ripa until his departure after 23 years in 2011, Philbin was also the first host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, winning a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Game Show Host in 2001. He also appeared on sitcoms including Seinfeld, Spin City and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
“We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved Regis Philbin passed away last night of natural causes, one month shy of his 89th birthday,” his family said in a statement to Us Weekly on Saturday.
“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,” the statement continued. “We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss.”
Scroll down to see more celebrity tributes to the TV legend.
“When I started to become famous on Saturday Night Live and people would ask, ‘What’s it like?’ when people would recognize [me] on the street, I would be like, ‘I feel like Regis.’ And everyone understood that. There was no need for explanation. He was the king of New York,” the late-night host said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “I was lucky enough to be on his show as a guest, and he was also on my show numerous times. We got to know each other pretty well. He will be remembered as a genuinely nice person, a funny human, a good husband, father and grandfather.”
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“I was lucky enough to meet Regis a few times, and it was a delight how he was exactly the same in person as he was on television,” the Late Night With Seth Meyers host said. “The most amazing thing about Regis wasn’t his contagious enthusiasm, it was how many years he maintained that contagious enthusiasm. We send our condolences to his wife, Joy, and the rest of his family. Regis will be missed.”
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“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,” Philbin’s former cohost wrote via Instagram. “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. I send all the love in my heart to Joy, to his children, to the rest of his family and to the innumerable people he touched over his legendary life. There has never been anyone like him. And there never will be.”
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“We are beyond saddened to learn about the loss of Regis Philbin,” the current Live cohosts said in a joint statement via Instagram. “He was the ultimate class act, bringing his laughter and joy into our homes everyday on Live for more than 23 years. We were beyond lucky to have him as a mentor in our careers and aspire everyday 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.”
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"The end of an era. A great friend and mentor," the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star tweeted. "I will never forget your generosity of spirit sweet Regis. You changed my life and I will never forget the lessons you taught me. You showed me how to fly. May you Rest In Peace with the angels."
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"So sad #RegisPhilbin R.I.P," the Touched by an Angel alum tweeted, quoting his family's statement.
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"Regis was a legendary figure in TV," she wrote. "There was no one like him. I used to love watching him. He was always up, always genuine, always real. God bless, Regis. #ripregis #RegisPhilbin."
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"#RegisPhilbin was always kind to me. Always. What a life! May he RIP," the singer tweeted.
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"My deepest condolences go out to the family & friends of #RegisPhilbin," the former Poison frontman tweeted. "I had the honor of being on LIVE several times including his final week of episodes with the song #FarewellToRegis. Regis was always awesome & the best. He will be missed."
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"#RegisPhilbin was always a class act. Condolences to his family on their loss," the comedian wrote on Instagram.
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"What a loss- The wonderful Regis Philbin," the Fuller House alum tweeted. "I met him in 1985 when I was on the 'Rodney Dangerfield Young Comedians Special' and we loved each other ever since. Such a TV icon and above all, a good man. My sympathies to Joy and all of his children and friends."
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"Truly the end of an era," she tweeted.
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"Rest in Peace Regis Philbin," the actor wrote.
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"Watching #RegisPhilbin as a kid was so influential. His easy nature, story telling & uproarious sense of humor made me want to be like him," he tweeted. "We met in the early 2000’s & told him I’d always wanted to meet him. He smiled, shook my hand & said, 'Well now you have.' A class act."
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"We throw this word around too much but Regis Philbin was a legend," the Bachelor franchise host wrote. "He was a true gentleman I’m glad I got to know and a TV host I admired and was honored to follow. Much like Arnold Palmer everybody has a great 'Regis' story, I’m grateful I have mine."
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"It is hard to say goodbye to someone whose smile and laugh greeted us so often," the Star Trek alum tweeted. "Regis Philbin, thank you for bringing a sense of fun and normalcy to our lives. Rest among the heavenly hosts now."
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"I truly believed that #RegisPhilbin would be a presence with us forever," the Seinfeld alum tweeted. "He was a fun, funny, charming man. On the occasions I got to be with him, he was always a bright light, endlessly interesting and interested in everyone. Sympathy to his loved ones. #ripregisphilbin"
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"Dear Dear Regis Philbin has passed away from us," the Broadway star wrote. "Hard to believe he’s gone. Such a fabulous presence RIP Dear Regis."
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"Saddened to hear about the passing of Regis Philbin. Condolences to his wife Joy," the Star Trek actor tweeted.
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"Heartbroken. We will miss you regis," the Today host captioned a photo of Philbin and Gifford on Saturday.
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"RIP REGIS!!! A real icon. Nothing will ever top Regis and @KathieLGifford as a morning show. Nothing!," the comedian tweeted.
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"Regis was a great broadcaster, a good friend and a tremendous amount of fun," Jimmy Kimmel Live host tweeted. "He leaves behind a beautiful family and a TV legacy that will likely go unmatched. Regis, I hope our friend [Don] Rickles met you at the pearly gates with open arms and a slew of the insults you loved so much."
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"Another highlight of my career was co-hosting with Regis on Live," she captioned a photo with Philbin. "It was a once in a lifetime moment to sit beside the king of improv tv. He was funny and gracious and warm. Love to [his wife] Joy and his family. #RIPREGIS"
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"This one hurts," the Frozen star wrote. "A staple in our household growing up, his joy was infectious and his hosting skills among the greatest I’ve ever seen. Whether on 'Live' or leading 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' he was always captivating & hilarious. #RIPRegis."
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