Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin (b. August 25, 1931 ) is a famous television personality, actor, singer, and game show host who hosts his a daytime TV show as well as being the host of the immensely popular Who Wants to be a Millionaire from 1999 until 2002, (as well as guest hosting on certain future episodes, and hosting specials such as Who Wants to be a Super Millionaire) as well as other game shows such as Million Dollar Password and the first season of America's Got Talent. Philbin has been married to his wife Joyce since 1970 and has four children, two with her, and two from a previous marriage with Kay Faylan. His yearly salary for his day time talk show from 2008 to 2011 was $21 million. Philbin hosted the talk show Live With Regis and Kathie Lee from 1988 until 2000 and currently hosts the talk show Live With Regis and Kelly which Philbin said he will retire from at the end of November, 2011.[1]
Early Life
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.[2]
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 gossiping 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 Merideth 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 headline show, beofre 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, revivng a series of older Password shows.
Discography
- It's Time for Regis (1968)
- When You're Smiling (2004)
- The Regis Philbin Christmas Album (2005)