Regis Francis Xavier Philbin was born on August 25, 1931 in New York, New York. Regis mother Filomena Bosicia-Philbin is of Arbëreshë ancestry and his father Francis Philbin, is a former U.S. Marine who served in the Pacific, he is of Irish ancestry.
As a child Regis was raised in the Van Nest section of Bronx where he grew up with his parents and younger brother Frank M. Philbin. Regis attended Our Lady of Solace Grammar school in Bronx and than went onto attend Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx in 1949. Upon graduating from Cardinal Hayes High School Regis enrolled at the prestigious Notre Dame University where he majored in Sociology.
In 1953 Regis graduated from Notre Dame and served a brief stint in the U.S Navy as a Supplies Officer, after his service in the Navy Regis decided to embark in a radio and television career.
He landed a few stints behind the scenes in radio and television in the 1950’s and 60’s which included a position as a page for the Tonight Show, a writer for Los Angeles Talk Show host Tom Duggard and an announcer for the Tonight Show in 1962.
Regis received his first big break in 1964 when he took over as host for the late night Westinghouse Tonight show from Hollywood filling in the spot for Steve Allen. Following his stint at Westinghouse Regis co-hosted A.M. Los Angeles, a local morning talk show on KABC-TV. Regis than went onto gain national exposure as a sidekick with Joey Bishop for The Joey Bishop show.
During the 1970’s Philbin also commuted each weekend to St. Louis as a host for Regis Philbin Saturday nights in St. Louis. In 1981 Regis began a job as a co-host with Mary Hart for a national morning variety series at NBC. Regis was than paired with Katherine Lee Gifford in 1985 which eventually became the syndicated national TV. Show in 1988 as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.
This show catapulted Regis into superstardom and Regis has remained with the show up until his retirement announcement in June 2011. During his more than 40 year Professional career Regis has been a host of the popular game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and received a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game show host in 2001, he also won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show host for Live with Regis and Kathie Lee that same year.
Regis continued to delight audiences as host of the first season of “America Got Talent” and “Million Dollar Password”. He also hosted the 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in June 2010, and filled in for Dick Clark on ABC’s Dick Clark New Year’s Rockin Eve in 2004.
Regis has received many accolades for his achievements in entertainment that of which include induction into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2006 and later as a recipient of the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Regis has been married twice, his first marriage to Catherine Faylen ended in 1968 and they both have two children together Amy and Daniel. He is currently married to television personality Joy Senese -Philbin and they have two children together Joanna and Jennifer. Regis Philbin remains a staple in Hollywood and has a star on the Hollywood walk of Fame.