The TV legend is said to have died of a heart attack, the website TMZ claims.
Philbin was a major celebrity in the United States for a number of years, where he was a presenter, actor and singer. He was known for keeping a high pace, and according to TMZ, Philbin was known as “the hardest working man in the industry”.
In a statement from the family that is reproduced by the website People, they write the following:
“His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we spent with him, for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor and his unique ability to make any day something worth talking about. We thank his supporters and his admirers for the support during his career of over 60 years “, the family writes.
Philbin became famous in 1988, when he became the host of the morning show «Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee ”along with colleague Kathie Lee Gifford. Gifford resigned after 15 years, but Philbin continued as host for a full 23 years until he left the show in 2011.
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The 88-year-old was also the first host of the hugely popular show “Will You Become a Millionaire” from 1999 to 2002. He also had a period as host of “America’s Got Talent”, writes People.
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The celebrity website states that Philbin struggled with health problems throughout his career. Among other things, he had to have a by-pass operation in 2007 due to plaque in the arteries, and in December 2009 he had his hip replaced.
The TV legend was married twice and had four children.
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