This week, the whole world has been mourning the loss of beloved television star Regis Philbin. The TV personality was truly one of a kind. Over the past few days, we've heard from so many of his close friends and coworkers about losing such an amazing talent and a wonderful friends.
Now the people closest to him are opening up about the kind of man he truly was and how tough of a loss this is — his wife and daughters.
In an exclusive statement, Regis Philbin's wife of 50 years, Joy, and their two daughters, Jennifer and Joanna, told People about the very special man in their lives. "He let everyone into his life," they said in a statement. "He turned every little daily annoyance and happiness into a story, and he shared all those little stories with people in a joyful and conversational way. It made his audience feel like they were right alongside him — because they were."
It's a beautiful sentiment about the man they loved dearly and will undoubtedly miss for the rest of their lives.
Regis Philbin was a class act. People loved watching him on TV because he seemed to be such a genuine person. And now we're getting to hear more about the man he was to his family from his wife and his daughters.
Regis died this weekend on July 24 due to a heart condition. He was 88 years old. While his death is incredibly sad and a tough loss to take for fans, friends, and, of course, his family, he lived a truly full and meaningful life.
Since his death, there has been an absolute outpouring of support for his family. People have been sharing stories, including their favorite moments with the star.
Kelly Ripa talked about her longtime cohost this week. She shared a sweet moment of him playing with her young daughter and gushed over how kind he was, and how easy he made it look. "They worshiped him," she said of her children. She also said that her dear friend and cohost taught her so much, but most importantly that you have to be who you truly are on TV. You can't pretend to be anyone else.
Kathie Lee Gifford also shared her thoughts on her dear friend. "There has never been anyone like him. And there never will be," she said.
It's certainly true that Regis was one of a kind. His career spanned over 50 years, which is an incredible feat that even some of the most famous celebrities don't come close to achieving. To the people who knew him, though, he was even more special.
In a previous statement, his family expressed their gratitude for having him in their lives. "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 Philbin family said. "We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss."
In the coming days and weeks, we're likely to hear more about Regis and his legacy. As family, friends, and fans continue to share stories, silly anecdotes, and otherwise happy moments with the star, we continue to learn more about his character. It's certainly touching to hear about how far and wide his kindness went and how much he touched people's lives.
This week, we also heard about one of his most favorite moments. "The one that he always felt made his career was when he was Joey Bishop's sidekick, on The Joey Bishop Show," says the Philbin family. "Regis worshiped Bing Crosby, and one day when Bing was the guest, Joey told Bing that Regis was a huge fan and goaded Regis into singing something. Regis sang 'Pennies From Heaven' right to Bing, and it helped get him his first recording contract."
A date has not yet been set for Regis Philbin's funeral. But we have learned that he will be put to rest at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame is his alma mater.
Regis graduated from college in 1953 with a sociology degree and was a huge supporter of the school. He talked about it often on the air and said he truly loved his time there. He even donated $2.75 million to the university in 2001, which was used to create the Philbin Studio Theater, a performance art venue on campus.
Regis leaves behind a legacy unlike any other. He will truly be missed by so many — family, friends, and fans. But no one will miss him quite like his wife and daughters, who are mourning such a profound loss. Our hearts go out to them.
