RIP Regis Philbin (1931 - 2020)

Legendary TV personality Regis Philbin has died.

Regis was the long time co-host of the morning talk show Live. First with with Kathie Lee Gifford from 1985 to 2000 then with Kelly Ripa from 2001 until 2011.

Over the years The Muppets were frequent Live guests including Miss Piggy's 1996 appearance to promote her cookbook "In The Kitchen with Miss Piggy."

Miss Piggy returned to Live with Regis and Kelly on May 19, 2005 to promote The Muppets' Wizard of Oz.

One of Regis's other hosting duties was for the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade.
In 1989, Kermit the Frog joined Regis to promote The Muppets coming to Walt Disney World. 

The 2002 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade saw Regis once again co-host while Bear from Bear in the Big Blue House was a guest.

Noel MacNeal who performed Bear and Leon from Between The Lions when they appeared on Live posted this tribute:

Regis and Kathie Lee Gifford made a cameo in Sesame Street's 25th Anniversary special Stars and Street Forever in 1994.

Philbin was name a Disney Legends at the 2011 D23 Expo along with Jim Henson.

You can watch both inductions below:

If all that wasn't enough Philbin was also the original host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, in which Kermit had to lend Jon Stewart a hand.

In 2013, Regis lent his voice to A New York Christmas To Remember a special that took place at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City and featured puppets conceived by Jane Henson and built by the Creature Shop.

Philbin was so active on TV, he holds the Guinness World Record for the most hours on U.S. television at 16,700 hours on air. He was nominated for 37 Daytime Emmy Awards, won six, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Regis Philbin was 88.