Regis Philbin death: Kathie Lee Gifford, Ryan Seacrest, and others pay glowing tribute to star
Media personality and legendary talk show host Regis Philbin died on Friday, July 24, at the age of 88. He is said to have died of natural causes. His death was confirmed in a statement by his family via People magazine. “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," read the statement.
It continued, "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. 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 one half of ‘Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee’ alongside Kathie Lee Gifford. The two managed to charm the nation with their personality and over the years their work has been cherished and reflected upon by many. On hearing the news of his death Lee broke her silence on Twitter and wrote, "REGIS. There will never be another."
Several other celebrities came forward and remembered Philbin as the amazing person he was. Ryan Seacrest took to Instagram and wrote, "We are beyond saddened to learn about the loss of Regis Philbin. He was the ultimate class act, bringing his laughter and joy into our homes every day on Live for more than 23 years. 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."
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wrote, "New York lost a TV legend today. Bronx born and raised, Regis Philbin greeted us for years with our morning coffee and at night after dinner. His humor and enthusiasm touched millions of Americans. My heart goes out to Joy and his loved ones."
Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel wrote, "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."