'I miss him every day': Kathie Lee Gifford pays HEARTFELT tribute to Regis Philbin on his 91st birthday
On Thursday, August 25, in honor of Regis Philbin's 91st birth anniversary, Kathie Lee Gifford posted a picture of her beloved co-host and friend with a sweet caption alongside. The ex-Today host posted a vintage snapshot of herself and Philbin on her Instagram account, with whom she co-hosted the widely televised program 'Live! with Kathie Lee and Regis', spanning from 1985 to 2000.
The 69-year-old Gifford captioned the photo, "I miss Regis every day. But this is a particularly difficult day as we remember this amazing man who would have been 91. Sending love to Joy and the rest of their family as they celebrate an extraordinary man and life."
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On July 24, 2020, Philbin, who was 88 years old, died in the presence of his family members. His family said to People after his death, "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."
Philbin had an illustrious professional life for over 60 years and was one of America's most adored TV anchors. From 1985 till his retirement in 2011, the celebrity co-hosted ABC's 'Live!' He additionally served as a presenter for the inaugural seasons of 'America's Got Talent' and 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'
Three days after Philbin's death, Gifford discussed her friendship with him on the 'Today' show, stating they shared a meal before his death. She also mentioned that they had a great time talking and laughing. Gifford claimed that she reconnected with Philbin and his wife, Joy, two weeks prior to his death while she was in New York. Gifford said on the show, "Of course, the first call I always make is to Regis and Joy, so I said, 'Can we get together? Can we have some lunch?' So they came over about two weeks ago."
"I saw Reg get out of the car with Joy and I sensed much more fragility in him than I'd seen in him since the last time in January out in Los Angeles," she added, further acknowledging that Philbin's sense of humor had remained sharp. "We sat right here on my screened porch and we laughed ourselves sick — we always just picked up right where we left off. We had the best time, and after they left, I just thought to myself: 'Lord, is that the last time I'm going to see my friend?' Because he was failing, I could tell."
Gifford stated that she checked in on Philbin's wife, Joy, a few days after his death. Given that Gifford had lost her own husband, Frank Gifford, who passed away in August 2015 at the age of 84, she said she intended to express her sympathies but also allow Philbin's family the time and privacy to mourn his death. "I didn't want to intrude on their private family time because I remember what that was like. It's been five years, almost, since Frank passed, and you love your friends reaching out, but you also desperately need that private time as a family," said the artist.
"Anyway, I was just grateful to have the time with them and comfort them a little bit and let them know that I believe with all my heart that I know where Regis is and I know who he's with, because I had many, many conversations with him over the years about faith and where we go when this life is over, and he was very curious, as always," she added.
Joy reportedly informed Gifford on their latest trip that it had been one of the very last occasions she had seen Philbin laugh. "She [Joy] said, 'Kathie, he hadn't laughed in a long, long time. I was so worried about him.' That will forever be a precious gift the Lord gave me, that I got to laugh with him — one of my best friends in all of my lifetime. "
For the very first time, after her son Cody Gifford and his wife Erika had a newborn boy in June, Gifford became a grandma. The pair honored the baby's late grandpa by naming their kid Frank. Gifford remarked, next to a picture of Cody standing in the hospital alongside his wife and son, "My heart is bursting. Frank Michael Gifford is here, confirming that our God is good and merciful and faithful. And he loves us!"