Regis Philbin was an iconic American television personality who left an indelible mark on entertainment. Philbin was best known for his charismatic hosting roles on popular television shows, including “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee” and its later iterations, “Live! with Regis and Kelly.” He also gained fame as the original host of the hit game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Philbin’s warm and engaging personality, quick wit, and boundless enthusiasm endeared him to audiences of all ages, making him a beloved figure in entertainment.
Contents of this Article
- Facts About Regis Philbin
- Regis Philbin’s Appearance
- Regis Philbin’s Net Worth
- Regis Philbin’s Personal Life
- Regis Philbin’s Career
- Regis Philbin’s Controversy
- Regis Philbin’s Real Estate
Facts About Regis Philbin
| Nationality | American |
| Estimated Net Worth | $150 million |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Birthplace | Manhattan, New York |
| Birthday | August 25, 1931 |
Regis Philbin’s Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 170 cm |
| Weight | 154 lbs |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown/Gray |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Regis Philbin’s Net Worth
Regis Philbin’s net worth when he passed away was $150 million. He made $20 million every year at the height of his career. He earned this money by being a host on various game shows and talk shows, and he also appeared as a guest on TV.
Regis Philbin’s Personal Life
Regis Philbin had two marriages in his lifetime. First, he was married to Catherine Faylen, who was the daughter of actor Frank Faylen. This marriage lasted from 1955 to 1968, and they had a daughter named Amy and a son named Daniel before they divorced. Then, in 1970, he married Joy Senese, an interior decorator. They had two daughters together, named Joanna and J. J.
Philbin was a big sports enthusiast who loved baseball and football. He was a devoted fan of the New York Yankees and took great pride in supporting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the sports teams of his alma mater. After graduating from Notre Dame in 1953, he frequently visited the campus for football games, concerts, pep rallies, banquets, and other events. He also generously donated $2.75 million to the university to help build the Philbin Studio Theatre for performing arts productions.
In addition to being a Yankees fan, Philbin was also interested in the Florida Marlins. On May 5, 2009, he had the honor of throwing the first pitch at a Marlins game. In his later years, he also showed support for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1993, Philbin had an angioplasty. Then, on March 14, 2007, he had to undergo triple bypass surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center due to plaque buildup in his arteries. Before this surgery, Philbin had a conversation with David Letterman, whom he had filled in for on the “Late Show with David Letterman” when Letterman had his quintuple bypass surgery.
After successful heart surgery, Philbin returned to his show on April 26. Later, on December 1, 2009, he had hip replacement surgery. He resumed his regular hosting duties on January 4, 2010. Then, in May 2010, he had surgery to remove a blood clot from his calf and returned to work the next day.
Philbin died on July 25, 2020, in a Greenwich, Connecticut, hospital. He suffered a heart attack caused by coronary artery disease. His family confirmed this sad event in a formal statement just one month before his 89th birthday. His funeral occurred at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and he was laid to rest in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Both of these locations are situated on the campus of his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame.
Regis Philbin’s Early Life
Regis Philbin was born on August 25, 1931, in the Manhattan borough of New York City. His father, Francis “Frank” Philbin, was an Irish-American U.S. Marine who served in the Pacific. His mother, Filomena (“Florence”) Boscia, came from an Albanian-Italian immigrant family in Greci. Philbin was raised in a Catholic family.
Philbin grew up in the Van Nest neighborhood of the Bronx. He began his education at Our Lady of Solace Grammar School and later graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School. After completing high school, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame, residing in Fisher Hall, and earned a sociology degree in 1953. Following his university studies, Philbin served as a supply officer with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade in the U.S. Navy. Afterward, he explored various behind-the-scenes roles in television and radio before transitioning into a career in broadcasting.
Regis Philbin’s Career
In his initial foray into show business, Regis Philbin worked on “The Tonight Show” in 1955. Later, he took on a writing role for Los Angeles-based talk show host Tom Duggan. On one memorable occasion, when Duggan couldn’t make it due to his drinking habits, Philbin nervously stepped in to host. Soon after, Philbin secured a position at KCOP as an assistant news editor under Baxter Ward. One day, when the station’s sportscaster failed to show up, Philbin stepped in to fill the role.
Philbin’s initial talk show, “The Regis Philbin Show,” debuted in 1961 on KOGO-TV in San Diego. This came after his stint as a news anchor for the station. Due to budget constraints, he didn’t have a dedicated writing team. As a result, he started each show with a segment that would become his signature style—the “host chat.” This segment, which took its cue from Jack Paar, involved Philbin talking with his audience (and eventually his co-host) about his life and the events of the day.
That Regis Philbin Show
In 1964, Regis Philbin took on the role of hosting “That Regis Philbin Show,” which was a nationally syndicated program for Westinghouse Broadcasting. He stepped into this position after Steve Allen chose not to renew his contract.
Unfortunately, the audience didn’t entirely embrace Philbin as a replacement for Allen’s unique style and humor. This show lasted over four months due to poor ratings, particularly compared to Johnny Carson’s show in the same time slot. Despite this setback, Philbin has mentioned that Johnny Carson was one of his influences in the world of television.
The Joey Bishop Show
In 1967, Regis Philbin got his first big break on network television when he became Joey Bishop’s sidekick on “The Joey Bishop Show.” Their on-screen dynamic was reminiscent of Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, with Bishop playfully poking fun at Philbin, who would take it in good humor.
However, things took a turn when Philbin heard through the network grapevine that ABC executives were unhappy with his performance and his distinctive accent. In response, during the opening of one episode in 1968, he went off-script and expressed his feelings of not being appreciated and feeling like a letdown to the show, abruptly quitting on air. A few nights later, after reassurances from Bishop that the jokes weren’t personal, Philbin returned to the program.
In his 1995 book, “I’m Only One Man!,” Philbin revealed that the dramatic on-air quitting incident was a planned publicity stunt that he and Joey Bishop had devised beforehand. He reiterated this in his 2011 memoir, “How I Got This Way,” explaining that they intended to attract some of Johnny Carson’s viewers to their show. When “The Joey Bishop Show” eventually got canceled, Bishop returned the favor by unexpectedly walking off the show on air, leaving Philbin to handle the night’s hosting duties alone.
Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee
In 1982, when Cyndy Garvey relocated from Los Angeles to New York City, Philbin decided to join her on “The Morning Show” at WABC-TV. Their partnership resumed on April 4, 1983. During this period, the 9 a.m. time slot on WABC was struggling with low Nielsen ratings due to tough competition from WNBC-TV’s “Donahue” and WCBS-TV’s block of game shows, including “The Joker’s Wild” and “Tic Tac Dough.”
When Garvey departed again, and Ann Abernathy briefly took on co-hosting responsibilities, Philbin found a successful partnership with Kathie Lee Johnson (later known as Gifford) in June 1985. This collaboration led to a significant boost in ratings. The show’s popularity grew, so it went into national syndication on September 5, 1988, under the name “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee,” the success story continued.
When Gifford left the show in 2000, it was temporarily called “Live! with Regis” until a new co-host could be found. During this interim period, Philbin had guest co-hosts. In February 2001, Kelly Ripa was selected as the permanent co-host, leading to the show being renamed “Live! with Regis and Kelly.” Their remarkable chemistry resonated with viewers, and the show maintained high ratings.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Philbin was the original host of the U.S. version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” adapted from a British game show. When “Millionaire” debuted in 1999 on ABC, it was a huge ratings hit, initially planned as an occasional special series. However, ABC later decided to run “Millionaire” as a regular series with frequent episodes, but its viewership gradually declined.
Following its cancellation, “Millionaire” underwent a makeover and became a syndicated series with Meredith Vieira as the host in 2002. ABC revived “Millionaire” once more in 2004, with Philbin as the host, and it was renamed “Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire.” This related series had a more limited airing schedule.
Philbin appeared in 11 episodes of a special edition of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” This special edition began on August 9, 2009, to mark the show’s 10th anniversary. He appeared as a celebrity contestant and hosted a week of episodes in November 2009. This hosting stint coincided with his surgery in 2009. In its syndicated format, “Millionaire” regularly featured guest hosts for specific weeks during the season.
America’s Got Talent
Philbin took on the role of hosting the first season of “America’s Got Talent,” a talent search show produced by Simon Cowell, which aired on NBC during the summer of 2006. He had a busy schedule, flying back and forth between New York City and Los Angeles to simultaneously host “Live with Regis and Kelly” and “AGT.” However, due to the challenges of cross-country commuting and his health issues, he stepped down from the role in 2007. Talk show host Jerry Springer then took over as the host of “AGT.”
Regis Philbin’s Controversy
Regis Philbin received support from his former colleague and friend, Gifford, with whom he had hosted for over 15 years. Ripa, who later joined Philbin as a co-host, had expressed some challenges working with him. Nonetheless, Gifford has publicly spoken up to defend her “great friend,” Philbin.
The controversy began when a portion of Ripa’s memoir gained widespread attention. In it, she described her experience working with Philbin as both a privilege and a significant challenge, mentioning that their working relationship wasn’t always smooth. Ripa later clarified her comments, stating she didn’t intend to disrespect or criticize anyone.
However, Gifford chose not to comment on Ripa’s statements, emphasizing that Ripa had the freedom to express her views, and she had no intention of advocating for Ripa to face consequences for her remarks. Gifford did mention, though, that she had no plans to read Ripa’s controversial book.
Regis Philbin’s Real Estate
Regis Philbin decided to sell his long-held residence in Greenwich, Connecticut, in June 2020, which tragically occurred just a few weeks before his passing at 88 on July 24. In November 2019, he put his 13,661-square-foot estate on the market with an asking price of $4.595 million. As the Wall Street Journal reported, this represented a 36 percent reduction from what he had initially paid for it more than ten years prior. Ultimately, the house was sold for $4.015 million.
The property, designed in the style of a secluded English manor, is set on roughly 2.59 acres and boasts a pool, tennis court, and a guest house. Inside, the home offers six bedrooms and nine full bathrooms. Constructed in 1997, the mansion provides ample room for entertaining, including a billiards room, a home theater, a pub room with a complete bar, and a wine cellar. You’ll also find a gym, sauna, sunroom, and cozy mahogany-paneled library, perfect for study or relaxation.
A sizable two-story foyer welcomes guests and leads into an impressive living room with one of the house’s seven fireplaces. Outside, you’ll find covered, open-air terraces offering expansive backyard views. This outdoor space includes garden-lined pathways extending from the pool area, adorned with an intricate fountain. Accessible through a gated driveway are garages with room for up to five cars.
Net Worth of Other Notable TV Hosts
Pat Sajak’s Net Worth
Pat Sajak is a renowned American television personality, primarily recognized for hosting the iconic game show “Wheel of Fortune” since 1981. Beginning his broadcasting career as a weatherman, he seamlessly transitioned to become one of America’s most beloved TV hosts. With a career spanning over four decades, Sajak has navigated various roles including a disc jockey during the Vietnam War, a weather reporter for KNBC, and hosting multiple other shows and game shows. His personal life also paints a vivid picture: married to photographer Lesly Brown-Sajak with two children and navigating a recent health scare in 2019. However, Sajak has not been without controversy, with a few on-air incidents causing debates among fans. Outside of television, his real estate ventures include a majestic hillside mansion in Encino, valued at an impressive $5.5 million. All these endeavors have significantly contributed to Pat Sajak’s net worth, which is estimated at $75 million.
Steve Harvey’s Net Worth
Steve Harvey, the renowned American comedian, actor, and television host, is famed for his engaging charisma and sharp humor. Originating from humble beginnings in Welch, West Virginia, Harvey transformed his challenging past into a series of successes, from standup comedy to hosting iconic television shows such as “Family Feud” and “The Steve Harvey Show.” His multifaceted career has spanned boxing, autoworking, and even enduring homelessness, leading him to numerous television and movie roles and solidifying his position as a comedic powerhouse. Despite some controversies, Harvey’s indomitable spirit, combined with his contributions to entertainment, has culminated in an impressive legacy. As of 2023, Steve Harvey’s net worth is estimated at around $200 million.