Regis Philbin.

Regis Francis Xavier Philbin

Regis Philbin — Actor

Born 25 Aug 1931 New York City, United States

Died 24 Jul 2020 Greenwich, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 94 yr If Living

17 min read

Reading time

3,269

Words

Jun 25, 2026

Published

134

Film credits

7

Awards

TL;DR

Regis Philbin logged 16,746.50 hours on camera, a Guinness World Record, and hosted two shows: Live! and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. He began as Joey Bishop’s sidekick in the 1960s before finding his voice on A.M. Los Angeles. Over seven decades, he won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and became the most filmed television personality in history.

Identity & family.

KIN · 3

Names, aliases, and relatives of Regis Philbin — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Regis Francis Xavier Philbin

Nicknames Reege, Big Daddy, Big Man, Number One

Aliases Regis Lee Philbin

Spouses: Joy Philbin Kay Faylen
Children: J. J. Philbin

At a glance.

STATS

Regis Philbin by the numbers — life, work, and family.

88 Years lived

134 Film credits

7 Awards

2 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Regis Philbin?

BIOGRAPHY

Regis Philbin — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Regis Philbin was born August 25, 1931 in New York City’s The Bronx as an only child. His father, Frank Philbin, was a Marine and personnel manager; his mother, Florence, was a homemaker of Irish and Italian descent. He attended Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, graduating in 1949, then earned a sociology degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1953. After serving in the U.S. Navy as a supply officer, he moved to Los Angeles in 1955 and began working behind the scenes in radio and television.

Career

Philbin’s first big break came as Joey Bishop’s sidekick on The Joey Bishop Show in the 1960s, where he famously walked off the live set. In 1975, he began hosting A.M. Los Angeles on KABC-TV, boosting the show to number one. After moving to New York, he co-hosted with Cyndy Garvey, then Kathie Lee Gifford, launching Live with Regis and Kathie Lee in 1988. That show dominated daytime. In 1999, he began hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, a massive hit that earned him a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host. He also hosted the first season of America’s Got Talent in 2006 and authored books like I’m Only One Man!.

Personal life

Philbin married Kay Faylen in 1956, with whom he had two children, Amy and Danny; they divorced in 1968. He married Joy Philbin in 1970, and they had two daughters, Joanna and J.J. Philbin. He lived across the street from the studio where he taped Live! and counted Jack Nicholson and Robert De Niro among his close friends. Philbin underwent heart bypass surgery in 2007 and angioplasty in 1993 and 2000.

Legacy

Regis Philbin holds the Guinness World Record for most time on camera in television history at 16,746.50 hours. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003, was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, and was named a Disney Legend in 2011. His conversational hosting style influenced a generation of talk show hosts. He is remembered as the energetic, relatable host of Live! and Millionaire, and as the most filmed television personality ever.

Filmography.

FILMS · 134

The complete filmography of Regis Philbin — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Simpsons

1989
TV

Family Guy

1999
TV

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014
TV

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962
TV

Seinfeld

1989
TV

How I Met Your Mother

2005
TV

Saturday Night Live

1975
TV

New Girl

2011
TV

Diagnosis: Murder

1993
TV

30 Rock

2006
TV

Late Show with David Letterman

1993
TV

Love, American Style

1969
TV

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

2014
TV

Get Smart

1965

Showing 14 of 134 View all 134 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 7

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Regis Philbin — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host
Disney Legends
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
TV Guide Award
Walter Camp Distinguished American Award
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host
Television Hall of Fame

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 8

A wall of memorable lines from Regis Philbin — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

I Had a Blocked Artery. the Great Thing About It Was That All the People Sitting at Home, Watching on the Couch, Feeling the Same Thing… Got up and Called the Doctor. I Still Get Letters Thanking Me for Saving People’s Lives.
I Had My Years of Struggling. Some of My Shows Failed Miserably, and I Was Upset by It and It Dented My Confidence. but I Never Stopped. I Kept Going for It.
I Would Do the Morning Show and Then Just Walk Over to the Network Side of the Building Here at ABC in New York and Sit Down and Start It up Again and Introduce the 10 Contestants, and Then Introduce the 10 – the Fastest Finger Question, and Pick One of Them, Put Them in the Seat Before You Finally Got to Asking Them the Questions.
If I’m Out the Night Before, and I Went to the Friars Club Last Night, They Had a Party for the Book, so I Enjoyed It. There Was a Lot of Colorful People There, I Could Talk About It Today, You Know, on the Show. Those Are the Days, the Mornings That I Miss.
You Get a Taste Here in New Orleans That You Don’t Get Anywhere Else in the Country.
You Just Don’t Go to the Next Question and You Don’t Jump All Over the Guest. You Let Them Be the Star of Whatever Time They Have with You!
A Great Listener – That Was My Talent!
Even I Have a Little Trepidation. You Wake up in the Morning and You Say, ‘What Did I Do Last Night That I Can Talk About? What’s New in the Paper? How Are We Gonna Fill That 20 Minutes?’ I’m Not Gonna Say It Always Works Out Brilliantly, but Somehow We Connect More Often Than We Don’t.

Did you know?

FACTS · 50

Little-known facts about Regis Philbin — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Appeared on national television for 15,188 hours, passing Hugh Downs to become the most filmed television personality of all-time.
Served in the United States Navy as a supply officer.
Had very good friends with Academy Award winners Jack Nicholson and Robert De Niro.
Resided across the street from the studio where he taped his show.
Guest-hosted for Dick Clark on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2005 in 2004 because Clark was hospitalized with a mild stroke.
Underwent angioplasty on his right artery on April 27, 2000; had a similar procedure on the left artery in 1993. He was back on television three days later.
Holds the Guinness World Record for most time spent on camera in television history at a total of 16,746.50 hours.
Attended the 90th birthday of his idol Mickey Rooney on September 23, 2010, alongside Donald Trump and Liza Minnelli.
Met a young employee, Michael Gelman, in 1983 and hired him as a production assistant on The Morning Show; Gelman later became executive producer of Live with Kelly and Mark.
Received a degree in sociology from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana in 1953.
Before his success, worked as a news writer at a local Los Angeles station.
Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Before his success, worked as a page on The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar with Gene Rayburn.
Got his name, Regis, from his father’s high school.
Became the second television personality ever to host both a successful game show and a talk show, after Johnny Carson.
Had two children with Joy Philbin: Joanna Philbin and Jennifer Joy J.J. Philbin.
His first wife was the daughter of actor Frank Faylen, who played Dobie Gillis’ father on television.
His middle name Xavier came from the Jesuit Saint Francis Xavier.
When born, he was baptized at The Church of St. Paul The Apostle in New York City; his father wanted to name him after the Saint of the Jesuit Order, leading to the name Regis from Regis High School in Manhattan.
His parents were Francis Frank Philbin, a United States Marine and personnel manager on Long Island, and Filomena Florence Philbin, a housewife.
Was the most frequent guest on David Letterman’s late-night career, appearing 150 times total between Late Night and The Late Show; his final appearance was on Letterman’s penultimate show in 2015.
His father was of Irish descent; his mother was of Italian ancestry with Arbëreshë background from Greci, Campania.
Had a lifelong friendship of over 30 years with Joan Rivers, whom he met on his own talk show in 1982.
Like Joan Rivers, was one of the two talk show hosts and the second game show host behind Bob Barker to have nearly guest-starred on every talk show in daytime or prime-time.
Attended and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, New York in 1949, whose alumni include Martin Scorsese and Don DeLillo.
Underwent successful heart bypass surgery on March 14, 2007.
Opened a Ford dealership in Gilbert, Arizona as a side investment; Philbin Ford closed in late 1988 due to a saturated auto market.
Began his career as a stagehand at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, then progressed to local shows like Regis Philbin’s Saturday Night in St. Louis and host of A.M. Los Angeles in 1975.
Had known Frank Gifford since age 18, from the time Gifford brought his Southern California team into Notre Dame Stadium in 1949.
Forbes magazine estimated his annual earnings at $21 million.
Was named in the Guinness Book of World Records for having more on-air, on-camera time than any other person.
Did not have a good relationship with Kelly Ripa off and on the set of Live with Kelly and Mark before retirement.
Ranked number 15 on Life’s 15 Best Game Show Hosts list.
When a toddler, his family moved to the South Bronx and settled into a $35-per-month apartment.
Received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Trine University on May 9, 2015.
Like fellow talk show hosts Joan Rivers, Geraldo Rivera, Phil Donahue, Jerry Springer, Sally Jessy Raphael, and Oprah Winfrey, was regarded as one of the busiest personalities on television.
The first guest on his show That Regis Philbin Show in 1961 on KGTV in San Diego was Jack Kemp, quarterback of the new San Diego Chargers.
Met Kathie Lee Gifford on a talk show in 1985.
Was named a Disney Legend in 2011 for his work on Live!, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and co-hosting Disney Parks Christmas Day Parades.
Best known by the public as the host of Live with Kelly and Mark and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Resided in the same building as Howard Stern.
Joked that he had been called about every 30 years to host the Academy Awards; his last time was in February 1979.
Underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his leg in May 2010, which formed after hip replacement surgery.
Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard on April 10, 2003.
Inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Had two children with Catherine Faylen: Amy Philbin born 1961 and Danny Philbin born 1967.
Ranked number 6 on GSN’s Top 10 Game Show Hosts of All Time.
Despite popular belief, had a brother, Frank, who was 20 years younger; Frank died of cancer on January 27, 2007 at age 55.
At age 24, moved to Los Angeles in 1955 but found employment hard to find and returned to New York.
Was the only talk show host or game show emcee to have guest-starred on nearly every episodic television series, playing himself or other characters.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 50

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Regis Philbin.

When was Regis Philbin born?

Regis Philbin was born on August 25, 1931 in New York City. He grew up as an only child in the Bronx.
Where was Regis Philbin born?

Regis Philbin was born in New York City, New York, USA. He spent his early childhood in the Bronx.
When did Regis Philbin die?

Regis Philbin died on July 24, 2020 at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut. He was 88 years old at the time of his death.
How old was Regis Philbin when he died?

Regis Philbin was 88 years old when he passed away. He died just one month before his 89th birthday.
Where did Regis Philbin die?

Regis Philbin died at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut. He had lived there for many years with his wife Joy.
What caused Regis Philbin's death?

Regis Philbin died from heart disease. He had previously undergone heart bypass surgery in 2007 and angioplasty in 2000 and 1993.
What was Regis Philbin's real name?

Regis Philbin’s full birth name was Regis Francis Xavier Philbin. He also used the alias Regis Lee Philbin at times.
What did Regis Philbin do for a living?

Regis Philbin was a television talk show host, game show host, actor, producer, and author. He is best known for hosting Live! and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
What nationality was Regis Philbin?

Regis Philbin was American. He was born in New York City and held United States citizenship.
Who was Regis Philbin married to?

Regis Philbin was married twice. He first married Kay Faylen in 1956 and later married Joy Philbin in 1970, remaining with her until his death.
Did Regis Philbin have children?

Yes, Regis Philbin had four children. With Kay Faylen he had Amy and Danny; with Joy Philbin he had Joanna and J.J. Philbin.
Where did Regis Philbin go to school?

Regis Philbin graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx in 1949. He then earned a sociology degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1953.
What awards did Regis Philbin win?

Regis Philbin won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Game Show Host and Outstanding Talk Show Host. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, and was named a Disney Legend.
How many awards did Regis Philbin win?

Regis Philbin won at least seven major awards, including Daytime Emmys, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a Disney Legends award. He also received numerous nominations.
What is Regis Philbin best known for?

Regis Philbin is best known for hosting the live talk show Live! with Kathie Lee Gifford and later Kelly Ripa, and for hosting the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
How tall was Regis Philbin?

Regis Philbin stood 5 feet 7 inches tall, or 1.70 meters. His height often became a topic of playful banter on his shows.
What were Regis Philbin's nicknames?

Regis Philbin was popularly called Reege, Big Daddy, Big Man, and Number One. These nicknames reflected his larger-than-life television persona.
Did Regis Philbin use an alias?

Yes, Regis Philbin sometimes used the alias Regis Lee Philbin. It is believed he adopted it for certain professional engagements.
Did Regis Philbin have siblings?

Contrary to popular belief, Regis Philbin had a younger brother named Frank Philbin, who was 20 years younger. Frank passed away from cancer in 2007.
Who were Regis Philbin's parents?

Regis Philbin’s father was Francis Philbin, a Marine and personnel manager; his mother was Filomena Philbin, a homemaker. His father was of Irish descent and his mother of Italian and Arbëreshë ancestry.
What was Regis Philbin's first big break?

Regis Philbin’s first major break came as Joey Bishop’s sidekick on The Joey Bishop Show in the 1960s. He later walked off the show during a live broadcast.
How did Regis Philbin get his start in television?

Regis Philbin began his television career as a stagehand at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. He later hosted local shows like Regis Philbin’s Saturday Night in St. Louis before landing A.M. Los Angeles in 1975.
Who were Regis Philbin's co-hosts on Live!?

Regis Philbin’s co-hosts on Live! included Sarah Purcell, Cyndy Garvey, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Kelly Ripa. The show was renamed Live with Regis and Kelly after Ripa joined in 2001.
What Guinness World Record does Regis Philbin hold?

Regis Philbin holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent on camera in television history at 16,746.50 hours. He surpassed Hugh Downs’s previous record.
Did Regis Philbin serve in the military?

Yes, Regis Philbin served in the United States Navy as a supply officer. This was after he graduated from the University of Notre Dame.
Was Regis Philbin friends with Jack Nicholson?

Yes, Regis Philbin was very good friends with Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson. He also counted Robert De Niro and Joan Rivers among his close friends.
Did Regis Philbin write any books?

Regis Philbin authored two books: I’m Only One Man! and Who Wants To Be Me?. Both books offered insights into his life and career.
Did Regis Philbin have a relationship with David Letterman?

Regis Philbin was the most frequent guest on David Letterman’s late-night shows. He appeared 150 times between Late Night and The Late Show, with his final appearance in 2015.
What was Regis Philbin's educational background?

Regis Philbin attended Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx and later earned a degree in sociology from the University of Notre Dame in 1953. He received an honorary doctorate from Trine University in 2015.
How many hours did Regis Philbin spend on television?

Regis Philbin spent a total of 16,746.50 hours on camera, as recognized by Guinness World Records. This makes him the most filmed television personality in history.
What was Regis Philbin's salary?

Forbes magazine once estimated Regis Philbin’s annual earnings at $21 million. This reflected his success with Live! and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Did Regis Philbin ever host a fashion show?

No, Regis Philbin did not host a fashion show. However, he did host the game show The Neighbors and the variety show Almost Anything Goes in the 1970s.
What was Regis Philbin's relationship with Kelly Ripa?

Before his retirement, Regis Philbin reportedly had a strained relationship with Kelly Ripa both on and off the set. Despite this, their on-screen chemistry helped maintain high ratings.
Did Regis Philbin appear in movies or TV shows as himself?

Yes, Regis Philbin frequently appeared as himself in TV shows such as The Simpsons, Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother, and Family Guy. He also had a cameo in Shrek the Third.
What was Regis Philbin's first talk show?

Regis Philbin’s first talk show was That Regis Philbin Show on KGTV in San Diego in 1964. Due to budget constraints, he had no writing team and spoke directly about his life.
How did Regis Philbin meet his wife Joy?

Regis Philbin married Joy Philbin in 1970. She was a former TV production assistant. They remained married for 50 years until his death.
Did Regis Philbin have any health issues?

Regis Philbin underwent heart bypass surgery in 2007 and had angioplasty procedures in 1993 and 2000. He also had hip replacement surgery followed by a blood clot removal in 2010.
What was Regis Philbin's personality like on air?

Regis Philbin was known for his energetic, conversational style and his ability to engage audiences. He often talked about his own life and opinions, making him relatable.
Did Regis Philbin win any Emmys?

Yes, Regis Philbin won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Talk Show Host for Live! and Outstanding Game Show Host for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Where did Regis Philbin live?

Regis Philbin lived in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he died. He also owned a home in Palm Beach, Florida, and lived across the street from his studio in New York.
Did Regis Philbin have any grandchildren?

Yes, Regis Philbin had grandchildren, including Ivy Elizabeth Schur and William Xavier Schur, through his daughter J.J. Philbin.
What was Regis Philbin's role in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Regis Philbin was the original host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire from 1999 to 2002. He returned for the spin-off Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire in 2004.
Did Regis Philbin host any other game shows?

Yes, Regis Philbin hosted The Neighbors and Almost Anything Goes in the 1970s, and the first season of America’s Got Talent in 2006.
What is Regis Philbin's legacy?

Regis Philbin is remembered as one of the most prolific television hosts, holding the record for most time on camera. He changed daytime talk with his personal, interactive style and made Who Wants to Be a Millionaire a cultural phenomenon.
Did Regis Philbin ever perform as a singer?

Yes, Regis Philbin also pursued singing, performing in the style of crooners like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. He occasionally sang on his talk show.
What was Regis Philbin's connection to Disney?

Regis Philbin was named a Disney Legend in 2011 for his work on Live!, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and co-hosting Disney Parks Christmas Day Parades.
How did Regis Philbin get the name Regis?

Regis Philbin was named after Regis High School in Manhattan, a Jesuit school his father admired. His middle name Xavier came from Saint Francis Xavier.
Did Regis Philbin ever guest-host awards shows?

Regis Philbin guest-hosted Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in 2004 due to Clark’s stroke. He also joked about hosting the Academy Awards but last did so in 1979.
What was Regis Philbin's early career like?

Regis Philbin began as a stagehand and page on The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar. He then worked as a news writer and host of local shows before his breakthrough.
Did Regis Philbin have a brother?

Yes, Regis Philbin had a brother named Frank Philbin, who was 20 years younger. Frank died from cancer on January 27, 2007 at age 55.

View all 50 questions View fewer questions

Audited & updated by

Sophia has 4 years of editorial experience and a habit of becoming the person any team leans on when they need to know where something stands. At Famousy, she manages the content pipeline, coordinates reviews, and handles the detail work that keeps a large editorial operation from falling apart. She reads a lot of profiles in the process and she's developed a sharp instinct for when something doesn't feel right. She flags it. It usually is.

Published on June 25, 2026

Report an issue

If something on this page looks off, we genuinely want to know about it. Send us a quick email with the celebrity's name, the detail that seems incorrect, and any sources you're referencing. We review every report and update the page as soon as we can.

Report an issue