Regis Philbin Biography

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Television personality. Born Regis Francis Xavier Philbin, on August 25, 1933, in New York City. Part of an Irish Catholic family, Regis was the eldest son of Frank and Florence Philbin, and grew up in the South Bronx. He was named after his father's alma mater, Regis High School, a Jesuit boys school in Manhattan.

After graduating from Notre Dame in 1953, Philbin served in the Navy. After his discharge from the military, he began his television career with several entry-level jobs in Hollywood, including a post as a film-delivery man at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, California.

Philbin got his first big break in the business after he began writing tongue-in-cheek reviews of the station's newcasts and tacking them on up on walls—he was then hired as a news and sports writer. This led to several news and feature reporting jobs in radio and television, and then to anchoring positions. His first talk show, The Regis Philbin Show, on KGTV-TV in San Diego, spawned his now well-known style of "host chat" that has become his trademark. Without money for a writing staff, Philbin began each show sharing his own observations and opinions, and engaging the audience. This led to an Emmy-winning Los Angeles show called Philbin's People in which Philbin and popular personalities discussed current issues.

Philbin took over hosting duties from Steve Allen at a nationally syndicated late night talk show, and finally gained national exposure in 1967 as the "sidekick" on The Joey Bishop Show. Even though the job was a great a great opportunity for the host, Philbin was very unhappy during this stint. He felt constantly frustrated and humiliated by the show's star, whose jokes were often at Philbin's expense. Philbin then spent seven successful years on A.M. Los Angeles, and won an Emmy for his work on The Regis Philbin Show.

Philbin hosted the morning show Temp on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles for three years, and worked on two game shows for ABC, hosting The Neighbors and reporting for Almost Anything Goes. He also hosted a feature/magazine show for Lifetime Cable Network called Regis Philbin Lifestyles, which eventually became (another) The Regis Philbin Show on prime time.

In 1983, he joined Cindy Garvey on New York City's The Morning Show, but the show did not fare well in the ratings. Garvey was replaced by Kathie Lee Gifford in 1985, and the show was renamed Live! With Regis & Kathie Lee. The duo's on-air chemistry made the show a success, and it became nationally syndicated in 1988. Since starting the show, Philbin has received seven Emmy nominations.

Philbin wrote his memoirs I'm Only One Man in 1995, and has co-authored Entertaining with Regis and Kathie Lee and Cooking with Regis and Kathie Lee. Philbin and Gifford also co-hosted The Miss America Pageant and collaborated on musical concert acts to sold-out crowds; Philbin also has a solo nightclub act. In 1999, Philbin created new material for his memoirs, when he co-hosted the highest-rated prime-time game show in history, the U.K. import Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Though initially slated for a two-week release in late summer, the success of the show insured its return.