In a statement, his family told People: “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 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.”
His on-air presence stretched across the better part of a century, with stints on morning talk shows, game shows, live specials, and much more. He was the first host of the popular trivia contest show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, helming it from 1999 to 2002,and he hosted the original season of America’s Got Talent. He won multiple awards for his work, including Daytime Emmys.
Other shows included Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee and Live! With Regis and Kelly.
He died of a heart attack.
