Disney Legend Regis Philbin has died
Disney Legend Regis Philbin has died, at age 88. His outsize personality and decades-long endurance made him a household name, whether for his long-running talk show, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, or the literally hundreds of other credits he tallied up.
By 2004, he had spent at least 16,700 hours on television, a Guinness World Record for “Most Hours on Camera on U.S. Television”. We take a look at some of the Disney moments in his career, and one role he didn’t get.
1965: That Regis Philbin Show
One of Philbin’s earliest television outings was a daytime talk show called That Regis Philbin Show (1964-1965). In 1965, 12-year-old Bryan Russell appeared as a guest, to promote the Disney movie Emil and the Detectives.
1980: The Morning Show
Regis was on ABC most weekday mornings from 1988, when Live with Regis and Kathy Lee debuted, to 2011, when he retired from Live with Regis and Kelly. But the series began as The Morning Show in Los Angeles in 1980, and then in New York City in 1983.
ca. 1989: Audition for Beauty and the Beast
In the audio commentary for the 2002 DVD of Beauty and the Beast, the directors revealed that Regis had auditioned for the voice of the Beast. How odd that would have been!
1990s and 2000s: Parade host
For years, Regis was a part of Easter and Christmas mornings for decades. From 1991 to 1995, he hosted the Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade with Joan Lunden, returning from 2001 to 2008 with Kelly Ripa. He was part of the Walt Disney World Happy Easter Parade from 1987 to 1996, returning in 1998.
1991: Disney MGM Studios handprints
On October 2, 1991, Regis cemented his place in Disney history, with hand prints in front of the Chinese Theatre. Kathie Lee Gifford and her son Cody also added their mark.
2001: Arriving in securely
When Disney-MGM Studios opened Who Wants to be a Millionaire Live, Regis arrived in an armoured truck! He taped episodes of Millionaire and Live while he was there.
2002: Superstar Limo
Regis waved money at riders of the much derided attraction at Disney’s California Adventure. (Yes, that’s Drew Carey in the video thumbnail.)
2004: Lilo & Stitch: The Series
“A little blue man in a dress? Fantastic!” The oft-forgotten Lilo & Stitch: The Series included a cameo by Regis. Lilo and Stitch are to serve as greeters for an important guest visiting Hawaii, and soon discover that he’s the “supreme Earthling” that Hämsterviel is looking to capture.
“Really? You get over worked?”, asks Lilo. “Of course, show-biz is tough going, kid. You really think I could have lasted four decades amassing literally hundreds of credits, as an actor, producer, and host in the process, if I didn’t take a break now and then? Everybody needs a rest.”
The episode, “Drowsy”, is available on Disney Plus.
2011: Disney Legend
2011: Phineas and Ferb Take Two
Regis was a guest of Phineas and Ferb, on their Disney Channel talk show.