Changes

Philbin was born on August 25, 1931 to Francis and Filomena Philbin in the [[Bronx]]. Philbin was raised a [[Catholic]]. It was long believed Philbin was an only child, but he announced he had a brother, Frank, who died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma on an episode of ''Regis and Kelly''. Philbin attended Our Lady of Solace in the Bronx. He then graduated from Cardinal Hayes High school in 1949 and later [[Notre Dame]] University with a degree in sociology. He then was a supply officer in the United States Navy. While in the Navy, he did some broadcasting behind the scenes. His earliest work was on ''The Tonight Show''. His first show was ''The Regis Philbin Show'' in [[San Diego]], [[California]]. Philbin came on the national scene working on ''The Joey Bishop Show''. He stopped the show feeling unwanted after ABC complained about his work and "thick accent". <ref>[http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/regis-philbin/bio/195288 TV Guide Regis Philbin Biography]</ref>

Philbin was born on August 25, 1931 to Francis and Filomena Philbin in the [[Bronx]]. Philbin was raised a [[Catholic]]. It was long believed Philbin was an only child, but he announced he had a brother, Frank, who died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma on an episode of ''Regis and Kelly''. Philbin attended Our Lady of Solace in the Bronx. He then graduated from Cardinal Hayes High school in 1949 and later [[Notre Dame]] University with a degree in sociology. He then was a supply officer in the United States Navy. While in the Navy, he did some broadcasting behind the scenes. His earliest work was on ''The Tonight Show''. His first show was ''The Regis Philbin Show'' in [[San Diego]], [[California]]. Philbin came on the national scene working on ''The Joey Bishop Show''. He stopped the show feeling unwanted after ABC complained about his work and "thick accent". <ref>[http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/regis-philbin/bio/195288 TV Guide Regis Philbin Biography]</ref>

==Game Show Hosting Career==

==Game Show Hosting Career==

Philbin started his hosting career in a show called ''The Neighbors'', a short-lived 1975-1976 show where a woman had to guess which of her three female neighbors was [[gossip]]ing about her. Philbin would have much more success in 1999 by hosting the American version of the popular British game show ''Who Wants to be a Millionaire'', where contestants answer fifteen multiple-choice questions with the amount of money escalating after every question with only two safe havens to one million dollars. The show went into syndication after Philbin's primetime show was canceled with new host Meredith Viera. Philbin also hosted the first season of ''America's Got Talent'', where a contestant would have to impress three judges with an act in hopes to win a million dollars and a [[Las Vegas]]

Philbin started his hosting career in a show called ''The Neighbors'', a short-lived 1975-1976 show where a woman had to guess which of her three female neighbors was [[gossip]]ing about her. Philbin would have much more success in 1999 by hosting the American version of the popular British game show ''Who Wants to be a Millionaire'', where contestants answer fifteen multiple-choice questions with the amount of money escalating after every question with only two safe havens to one million dollars. The show went into syndication after Philbin's primetime show was canceled with new host Meredith Viera. Philbin guest hosted a few episodes of the syndicated show. Philbin also hosted the first season of ''America's Got Talent'', where a contestant would have to impress three judges with an act in hopes to win a million dollars and a [[Las Vegas]]

headline show, before being replaced by [[Jerry Springer]] and later [[Nick Cannon]]. He also hosted ''Million Dollar Password'', where a contestant would pair up with a celebrity guessing word clues against another contestant/celebrity pair, reviving a series of older ''Password'' shows.

headline show, before being replaced by [[Jerry Springer]] and later [[Nick Cannon]]. He also hosted ''Million Dollar Password'', where a contestant would pair up with a celebrity guessing word clues against another contestant/celebrity pair, reviving a series of older ''Password'' shows.