Regis Philbin, a multifaceted personality, made a lasting impact on the entertainment industry as a TV-talk show host, game-show host, singer, author, and TV personality. Born in The Bronx, New York, Philbin grew up as an only child and later attended the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a degree in sociology.
Philbin's career in radio and television began behind the scenes before he eventually transitioned to broadcasting. He moved to California and secured his own show on KGTV in San Diego, titled That Regis Philbin Show, in 1964. However, due to budget constraints, the show lacked a writing team, prompting Philbin to adopt a new format that focused on engaging his audience in discussions about his life and current events.
This innovative approach led to Philbin's first big break as Joey Bishop's sidekick on The Joey Bishop Show in 1961. Although Bishop often teased Philbin, the teasing ceased after Philbin walked off the stage during a live broadcast and remained absent for several days.
Philbin went on to host A.M. Los Angeles, a local TV talk show on KABC-TV, which he brought to number one in Los Angeles. He was joined by co-hosts Sarah Purcell, Cyndy Garvey, and eventually Kathie Lee Gifford, with whom he formed a successful duo on "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" in 1988.
Philbin's success in daytime television earned him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host in 1988, and he later won a second Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host for his work on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
In addition to his TV hosting career, Philbin was also a game show host, starring in The Neighbors and Almost Anything Goes, although both shows were ultimately unsuccessful. He later hosted Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, which became a massive hit before being canceled in 2002 and later revived with Meredith Vieira.
Philbin's game show career continued with Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire in 2004, although it was canceled within four months. He also hosted the first season of America's Got Talent in 2006.
As an author, Philbin penned two books: "I'm Only One Man!" and "Who Wants To Be Me?" He was also a singer, performing in the style of crooners like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Regis Philbin passed away on July 24, 2020, at the age of 88, due to natural causes in Greenwich, Connecticut.
