Regis Philbin

**Regis Francis Xavier Philbin** (; August 25, 1931 – July 24, 2020) was an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Sometimes called (alternatively attributed to James Brown) "the hardest working man in show business", he held the world record for the most time spent in front of a television camera. He was most widely known for _Live! with Regis and Kelly_ (previously _Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee_), _Who Wants to Be a Millionaire_, _Million Dollar Password_, and for hosting the first season of _America's Got Talent_.

## Early life

Philbin was born in the Bronx, New York City. His father, Francis "Frank" Philbin, a U.S. Marine who served in the Pacific, was of Irish ancestry.  His mother, Filomena "Florence" (nee Boscia), was of Arbëreshë ancestry. They lived in the Van Nest section of the Bronx. Philbin was raised Roman Catholic. He was supposedly named "Regis" because his father wanted him to attend the prestigious Regis High School.  It was long believed that Philbin was an only child, but on the February 1, 2007, broadcast of _Live with Regis and Kelly_, Philbin announced that he did have a brother, Frank M. Philbin (March 1, 1951 – January 27, 2007), who had died from non-Hodgkin lymphoma several days earlier. Philbin said his brother had asked to not be mentioned on television or in the press.

Philbin attended Our Lady of Solace grammar school in the Bronx, and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx in 1949 before attending the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1953 with a sociology degree. He later served in the United States Navy as a supply officer, then went through a few behind-the-scenes jobs in television and radio before moving into the broadcasting arena.

## Television career

Philbin filled in for Dick Clark for the 2004 edition of _Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve_ after Clark suffered a stroke.

On November 18, 2011, Philbin aired his final episode of _Live! with Regis and Kelly._

## Death

On July 24, 2020, Philbin died at the age of 88, one month before his 89th birthday. _TMZ_ reported that Philbin had died at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut of heart disease. _The Blast_ revealed that he had died after having a heart attack caused by coronary artery disease.

## Other websites

- Official website promoting Regis's albums
- Official website for _Live with Kelly and Michael_
- Regis appears on Michael Eisner's talkshow on CNBC
- Regis Philbin at NNDB
- Regis Philbin video interview in the Archive of American Television (2006)

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Regis Philbin
- **image**: Regis Philbin 2000.jpg
- **image size**: 215px
- **caption**: Philbin in 2000
- **birth name**: Regis Francis Xavier Philbin
- **birth date**: August 25, 1931
- **birth place**: Bronx, New York (state), New York, United States, U.S.
- **death place**: Greenwich, Connecticut, Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
- **death cause**: Heart attack caused by coronary artery disease
- **education**: Cardinal Hayes High School
- **alma mater**: University of Notre Dame
- **yearsactive**: 1961–2020
- **spouse**: Catherine "Kay" Faylen (1955–68)
Joy Philbin, Joy Senese (1970–2020; his death)
- **children**: Amy
Joanna
J. J. Philbin
Daniel
- **parents**: Francis Philbin
Filomena (née Boscia)