Snakkle Celebrates Regis Philbin’s Amazing Career as He Retires from Live with Regis and Kelly

Regis Philbin, Senior Year, Cardinal Hayes High School photo, Bronx, New York (1949)

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Regis Philbin, Senior Year, Cardinal Hayes High School, Bronx, New York (1949)

Born in New York City and raised in the Bronx, Regis Francis Xavier Philbin was half Irish and half Italian. He was raised in the Catholic faith and attended Catholic schools all the way through college, graduating from his beloved University of Notre Dame in 1953.

Regis Philbin Photo The Regis Philbin Show (1964)

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Regis Philbin on The Regis Philbin Show (1964)

After a stint in the U.S. Navy, Philbin pursued a career in broadcasting as a page, writer, and even a Tonight Show announcer until he landed his own chat show on KOGO-TV in San Diego. The short-lived show had no budget for writers, so by necessity Regis developed his signature witty, off-the-cuff style.

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Regis Philbin and Joey Bishop (1967)

Philbin inherited the Westinghouse Tonight Show from Hollywood after Steve Allen left, but the show lacked ratings. Regis didn’t find his TV sweet spot again until 1967, when he took the gig as Joey Bishop’s side man/comic foil on The Joey Bishop Show.

Regis Philbin on Love, American Style (1969)

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Regis Philbin on Love, American Style (1969)

Philbin then transitioned into a career as a daytime game show host, with occasional acting gigs on shows like the rom-com anthology Love, American Style.

Regis Philbin Photo Fantasy Island (1979)

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Regis Philbin on Fantasy Island (1979)

Did you know Regis kidnapped Tattoo on Fantasy Island? In a second-season episode of the hit fantasy series, Philbin played a petty crook that tried to tie up Mr. Rourke’s tiny right-hand man, without much success.

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Regis Philbin and Mary Hart (1981)

In one of Regis’s many morning-show forays, he and Mary Hart (pre-Entertainment Tonight) cohosted a morning variety show in 1981 that tanked after four months.

Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee 1985 photo

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Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee

In 1985, Philbin was paired with Kathie Lee Johnson for a flailing NYC-based morning talk show called unimaginatively The Morning Show. Their wacky chemistry turned the ratings around so much that in 1988 the show was syndicated and rebranded Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. Kathie Lee’s frustrated screech of “Reege” became a national ratings win.

Regis Philbin family photo jj philbin joy philbin joanna philbin (1987)

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Regis Philbin and Family (1987)

On the personal side, Philbin has been married twice. His first marriage lasted 13 years and produced two kids, Amy and Daniel. In 1970, Regis married Joy Senese, and together they had two kids, Joanna and J.J. Joy and Regis have often cohosted Live together or performed together in concert, managing to keep their 41-year union strong and vital (despite their hilarious on-camera bickering).

Regis Philbin on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire photo (1999)

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Regis Philbin on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1999)

In 1999, everything was coming up Regis for Philbin as he continued to cohost Live in the morning and then hosted the live mega-successful game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. At the height of its success, he hosted multiple shows of Millionaire a week and won an Emmy for his efforts in 2001.

Regis Philbin Hollywood Walk of Fame Photo (2003)

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Regis Philbin on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2003)

A talk show and game show host, singer, actor, and author, Regis Philbin was honored for his multifaceted career in 2003 with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Regis Philbin photo Regis Philbin Christmas Album (2005)

Regis Philbin, The Regis Philbin Christmas Album (2005)

Philbin released his first album, It's Time for Regis!, in 1968 but it died on the charts. He didn’t record again until 2004, when his efforts were met by a much more enthusiastic audience. Regis now has four albums, including a Christmas one, on his resume, and he continues to perform live a few times a year.

Regis Philbin Kelly Ripa Live with Regis and Kelly photo (2009)

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Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kelly (2009)

Kathie Lee Gifford left Regis and their morning show in 2000, so Philbin went solo for a year until they hired Kelly Ripa as his permanent wing-woman in 2001. He nicknamed Kelly “Pippa,” and their May-December, father-daughter chemistry translated into ratings magic for 10 years.