Biography
Television host Regis Philbin spent more time in front of a TV camera than anyone in history, holding the Guinness World's Record for over 15,600 on-air hours to prove it. The wise-cracking ball of energy with the unmistakable New York accent was the longtime host of ABC's perennial favorite morning show "Live With Regis..." (syndicated, 1983- ). "Reege" also injected his dramatic flair and gift for unscripted gab into the prime time game …
Regis Philbin SlideShow
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Career Milestones
| Hosted "Regis Philbin's Saturday Night in St. Louis" on KMOX-TV | ||
| Hosted local interview TV show in San Diego; attracted important guests like Billy Graham and Ronald Reagan | ||
| Worked briefly as a page at NBC | ||
1953 | Served in the U.S. Navy | |
1955 | Hired by KCOP TV in Los Angeles as news writer and producer | |
1957 | Became on-air reporter at a station in San Diego, eventually moving up to news anchor | |
1964 | Hosted "That Regis Philbin Show," a 90-minute syndicated program of music and celebrity interviews; canceled after four months | |
1967 | Gained his first national exposure as Joey Bishop's sidekick on ABC's "The Joey Bishop Show" | |
1972 | Made feature film debut as himself in Woody Allen's "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)" | |
1975 | Co-hosted "A.M. Los Angeles," a local morning talk show on KABC-TV; first with Sarah Purcell (1975-78), then with Cyndy Garvey (1978-81) | |
1975 | Hired by KABC in Los Angeles as a movie reviewer | |
1977 | Made TV-movie debut as Harry Carter in "SST - Death Flight" (ABC) | |
1981 | Teamed with Mary Hart to co-host the national morning variety series "The Regis Philbin Show" for NBC | |
1982 | Hosted "Regis Philbin's Health Styles" on the cable channel The Health Network; cancelled after 13 weeks | |
1983 | Moved to NYC and launched "The Morning Show" for ABC; first co-host was Cindy Garvey | |
1984 | Signed first four-year contract to serve as host of "The Morning Show" (ABC) | |
1985 | Teamed with Kathie Lee Johnson (later Gifford) for "The Morning Show" (ABC) | |
1986 | First time reporting for "Walt Diney's Very Merry Christmas Parade" (ABC) | |
1987 | Executive produced and hosted the Lifetime special "The Regis Philbin Show" | |
1988 | "The Morning Show" became nationally syndicated and changed its name to "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (ABC) | |
1989 | Provided the voice of the Emperor for "Emperor's New Clothes" segment of "Long Ago and Far Away" (PBS) | |
1991 | First time hosting (with Kathie Lee Gifford) the Miss America Pageant | |
1993 | Guest-starred as Winslow Keane in "Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host" (NBC) | |
1996 | Portrayed District Attorney Bradly on an episode of ABC's "Life's Work" | |
1997 | Played a TV host suspected of murdering his co-host (played by Kathie Lee Gifford) in an episode of "Diagnosis Murder" (CBS) | |
1997 | Provided the voice of Jack for HBO's "Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special" | |
1999 | Hosted ABC's primetime game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" | |
2000 | When Gifford departed, the show was temporarily named "Live with Regis" | |
2001 | Kelly Ripa replaced Kathy Lee Gifford as the permanent co-host and the show was renamed "Live with Regis and Kelly" (ABC) | |
2006 | Hosted the primetime revival of "This Is Your Life" (ABC) | |
2007 | Voiced Mabel, the ugly stepsister in "Shrek the Third" | |
2011 | Announced in January he will be retiring from "Live With Regis and Kelly" after 28 years; he hosted his last show on Nov. 18, 2011 after 28 seasons on the air | |
2011 | Made a cameo as himself in the comedy feature "Jack and Jill," starring Adam Sandler | |
Awards
2011 | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host in Live! with Kelly |
2012 | Daytime Emmy Award for OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW / ENTERTAINMENT in Live! with Kelly |
2012 | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host in Live! with Kelly |