HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - Regis Philbin, the onetime host of “A.M. Los Angeles” who went on to greater fame as the star of “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee,” “Live With Regis and Kelly” and “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?” on ABC, has died at age 88, his family told People today.
“We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved Regis Philbin passed away last night of natural causes, one month shy of his 89th birthday,” the family's statement said.
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“His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him -- for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about. We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss.”
Philbin holds the Guinness World Record for most hours on camera, which he set on the Aug. 20, 2004, edition of “Live! with Regis and Kelly.”
At the time the record -- formerly held by Hugh Downs -- was 15,188 hours on television, but Philbin added many more hours after that.
The Notre Dame graduate held many jobs on Southland television shows over the years, most prominently as the co-host of the KABC morning show “A.M. Los Angeles” from 1975-81.
He hosted “The Regis Philbin” Show on KOGO-TV (now KGTV) in San Diego earlier in his career.
Philbin has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6834 Hollywood Blvd., just west of Highland Avenue and on the same block as the TCL Chinese Theater.