Regis Philbin

Regis Francis Xavier Philbin (August 25, 1931 – July 25, 2020) worked as a television presenter, comedian, actor, and singer. Dubbed "the hardest-working man in show business," he still holds the Guinness World Record for the most hours spent on U.S. television, a record he kept after his death. He is best remembered as the co-host of the nationally syndicated talk show *Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee*, which began in 1988 and later became *Live! with Regis and Kelly* in 2001. He also hosted the American version of *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire*, the most-watched prime-time series of the 1999–2000 season.

Philbin was born in Manhattan, New York City, on August 25, 1931. His father, Francis "Frank" Philbin, was a U.S. Marine of Irish descent who served in the Pacific, and his mother, Filomena (called Florence, née Boscia), came from an Albanian-Italian immigrant family from Greci. He was raised Catholic. His father wanted him to attend Regis High School, his own alma mater, so he named his son Regis. For years, Philbin was thought to be an only child, but in February 2007 he revealed on *Live with Regis and Kelly* that he had a brother, Frank (March 1, 1951 – January 27, 2007), who died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Philbin explained that his brother had asked not to be mentioned publicly while alive to protect his privacy. Philbin grew up in the Van Nest neighborhood of the Bronx, attending Our Lady of Solace grammar school and Cardinal Hayes High School. He then went to the University of Notre Dame, living in Fisher Hall, and graduated in 1953 with a sociology degree. After college, he served as a supply officer Lieutenant Junior Grade in the U.S. Navy, then worked various behind-the-scenes jobs in television and radio before moving into broadcasting.

His first show business job was as a page on *The Tonight Show* in 1955. He later wrote for Los Angeles talk-show host Tom Duggan and nervously filled in one night when the hard-drinking Duggan didn't show up. Philbin then worked at KCOP as assistant news editor to Baxter Ward, and when the station's sportscaster was absent, he filled in. In 1957, he left Los Angeles and returned to New York City; his replacement at KCOP was George Van Valkenburg. He also worked as an announcer on *The Tonight Show* in 1962. His first talk show was *The Regis Philbin Show* in 1961 on KOGO-TV (now KGTV) in San Diego, after serving as a news anchor there. With no writing staff due to budget constraints, he started each show with what became his trademark "host chat," a segment influenced by Jack Paar where he talked with the audience (and later his co-host) about his life and daily events. In 1964, Westinghouse Broadcasting picked up his show for national late-night syndication, replacing Steve Allen. But *That Regis Philbin Show* failed to attract many stations, and Westinghouse replaced him with Merv Griffin in 1965.

Philbin got his first network TV exposure in 1967 as Joey Bishop's sidekick on *The Joey Bishop Show* (1967–1969). In a style similar to Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, Bishop would tease Philbin, who took the jokes in stride. However, Philbin's feelings were hurt when he learned from network gossip that ABC executives were unhappy with his work and his thick accent. During a 1968 show, he launched an unplanned rant about "not being wanted" and abruptly quit on air. A few nights later, after Bishop assured him the teasing wasn't personal, Philbin returned. As he later revealed in his 1995 book *I'm Only One Man!*, this was actually a publicity stunt planned by both men. He repeated this claim in his 2011 memoir *How I Got This Way*, explaining it was meant to attract some of Johnny Carson's viewers. When *The Joey Bishop Show* was canceled, Bishop returned the favor by walking off the show on air, leaving Philbin to finish the night alone. In the early 1970s, Philbin co-hosted *Tempo* on Los Angeles station KHJ-TV (now KCAL-TV) and commuted on weekends to St. Louis to film *Regis Philbin's Saturday Night in St. Louis* on KMOX-TV (now KMOV). From 1975 to 1981, he co-hosted *A.M. Los Angeles*, a local morning talk show on KABC-TV, where he was already reviewing movies for the station's newscasts. He co-hosted first with Sarah Purcell (1975–1978), then with Cyndy Garvey (1978–1981). Philbin also hosted *Million Dollar Password* and the first season of *America's Got Talent*.