Trivia

He appeared for his 15,188 hour on national television, passing Hugh Downs to become the most filmed television personality of all-time. (2004)

Served in the United States Navy as a supply officer.

Very good friends with Academy Award winners Jack Nicholson and Robert De Niro.

Resided across the street from the studio where he taped his show.

Guest-hosted for Dick Clark on New Year's Rockin' Eve 2005 (2004) in 2004, because Clark was still in the hospital, suffering a mild stroke. The doctors said he was expected to come back after recovering from a stroke, but he was not well enough to host the show.

Received his degree in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, in Notre Dame, Indiana (1953).

Had angioplasty on his right artery on April 27, 2000. Had the procedure performed on the left artery in 1993. He was back on television three days later.

Holds the Guinness World Record for most time spent on camera in the history of television at a total of 16,746.50 hours.

Attended the 90th birthday of his idol Mickey Rooney on September 23, 2010. Among the many guests are: Donald Trump and Liza Minnelli.

Met a young, unfamiliar employee, Michael Gelman, after he had graduated from the University of Colorado's School of Journalism, in 1983, when Philbin had hired him, for his first job on The Morning Show (Regis Philbin, Cyndy Garvey) (1983), as a production assistant. By the time, the show became Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (1988) (with Philbin's fourth co-hostess Kathie Lee Gifford, at the time), Gelman was already promoted as executive producer on the show, which he is still to this day.

Had two children with Joy Philbin: Joanna Philbin and Jennifer Joy (aka J.J. Philbin).

Before he was a successful talk show host as well as a game show host, he used to work as a news writer at a local Los Angeles station.

Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daytime Emmy Awards. (junio de 2008)

Before he was a successful talk show and a game show host, he used to work with Gene Rayburn as a page on Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957).

He got his name, Regis, from his father's high school.

His middle name Xavier came from the Jesuit Saint Francis Xavier.

The second television personality ever to host both a successful game show and a talk show host, after Johnny Carson.

When he was born, he was baptized at The Church of St. Paul The Apostle in New York City. His father wanted to name him after the Saint of The Jezuit Order of Priests he had studied with, therefore, the baby would be named after the popular Regis High School in Manhattan, New York.

His parents were Francis "Frank" Philbin, a United States Marine, who was a personnel manager in Long Island, and Filomena "Florence" (née Boscia) Philbin, a housewife.

His first wife was the daughter of actor Frank Faylen, who played Dobie Gillis' father on television.

Regis Philbin was the most frequent guest in David Letterman's late night career. Between Late Night on NBC and The Late Show on CBS, Regis appeared 150 times in total. His final appearance was in Letterman's penultimate Late Show episode in 2015.

His father was of Irish descent. His mother was of Italian ancestry, with an Arbëreshë (ethnic Albanians from Italy) background from Greci, Campania.

Attended and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, New York (1949), whose alumni also include Martin Scorsese and Don DeLillo.

Underwent successful heart bypass surgery [14 March 2007].

Before he was a successful talk show and game show host, he began his career as a stagehand in KCOP-TV, Los Angeles, California. Then, he progressed to his own local shows like "Regis Philbin's Saturday Night in St. Louis"; then host of "A.M. Los Angeles" in 1975.

Lifelong friend of over 30 years was Joan Rivers. Philbin met her on his own talk show Episode #1.66 (1982), where Rivers was his guest.

Like fellow television personality and talk show hostess, Joan Rivers, Philbin was one of the two talk show hosts, and the second game show host, behind Bob Barker, to have nearly guest-starred on every talk show, either daytime or prime-time.

Was named in the Guinness Book of World Records as having more on-air, on-camera time of any person... and still counting.

Ranked #15 on Life's 15 Best Game Show Hosts.

When Philbin was a toddler, his family moved to the S. Bronx, and settled into a $35 a month apartment.

He opened a Ford dealership in Gilbert, Arizona, as a side investment during his career in television. The dealership, Philbin Ford, suffered due to the already saturated auto market in the area, and was closed in late 1988.

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Trine University [9 May 2015].

Like fellow talk show hosts Joan Rivers, Geraldo Rivera, Phil Donahue, Jerry Springer, Sally Jessy Raphael and Oprah Winfrey, Philbin was regarded in being one of the busiest personalities on television.

Had known Frank Gifford since he was 18. He said before Gifford's death, from the time he brought his Southern California team into Notre Dame Stadium, in 1949, Philbin had watched him through all those pro football years with the New York Giants, and, of course, heard him with Don Meredith and Howard Cosell in calling football games that could never be duplicated again.

Forbes magazine estimated his earnings for the year at $21 million. (2007)

The first guest on his show, That Regis Philbin Show (1964) in 1961 on KGTV in San Diego, was Jack Kemp, the quarterback of the new San Diego Chargers football team.

Met Kathie Lee Gifford on a talk show in 1985.

Best known by the public as the host of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (1988) and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1999).

Joked that he has called on about every 30 years to host the Academy Awards in 2008. His last took place in February 1979.

Underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his leg, which was formed after his hip replacement surgery in December [18 May 2010].

Before retirement, he didn't have a good relationship with Kelly Ripa, off- and on- the set of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (1988).

Had two children with Catherine Faylen: Amy Philbin (born 1961) and Danny Philbin (born 1967).

Resided in the same building as Howard Stern. (2005)

Contrary to popular belief, had a brother, Frank, who was 20 years younger. Frank passed away on January 27, 2007, from cancer, at age 55.

At age 24, Philbin moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1955. At that time, employment was harder to find for him, there, so he went back to New York City, New York.

Was the only talk show host and/or game show emcee ever to have guest-starred on nearly every episodic television series, either playing himself or appearing as different characters.

Through his long career, he was partnered with females, who were at least 16 years younger than him on his own talk show, being the last one Kelly Ripa, who is 39 years Philbin's junior.

Ranked #6 as GSN's Top 10 Game Show Hosts of All Time.

Auditioned for the voice role of the Beast in Disney's La bella y la bestia (1991), which went to Robby Benson.

Mentioned (along with Kathie Lee Gifford) in Kanye West's "Jesus Walks".