The legendary television host Regis Philbin has tragically passed away at the age of 88.

This unfortunate news was confirmed by Philbin’s family in a statement to Fox News.

“We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved Regis Philbin passed away last night of natural causes, one month shy of his 89th birthday,” the statement read. “His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him — for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about. We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss.”

President Donald Trump paid tribute to Philbin on Twitter, calling him “one of the greats.”

“One of the greats in the history of television, Regis Philbin has passed on to even greater airwaves, at 88,” Trump wrote. “He was a fantastic person, and my friend. He kept telling me to run for President. Holds the record for “most live television”, and he did it well. Regis, we love you….”

One of the greats in the history of television, Regis Philbin has passed on to even greater airwaves, at 88. He was a fantastic person, and my friend. He kept telling me to run for President. Holds the record for “most live television”, and he did it well. Regis, we love you….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2020

Born in 1931, Philbin joined the United States Navy before embarking on a decades-long career in television. He hosted the morning talk show “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee” alongside Kathie Lee Gifford from 1985 to 2000. Once Gifford left the program, Philbin hosted “Live! with Regis and Kelly” with Kelly Ripa from 2001 until he retired in 2011.

“Even I have a little trepidation,” Philbin said in 2008, when asked how he does a show every day. “You wake up in the morning and you say, ‘What did I do last night that I can talk about? What’s new in the paper? How are we gonna fill that 20 minutes?’”

“I’m not gonna say it always works out brilliantly, but somehow we connect more often than we don’t,” he added.

Philbin also hosted the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” which was the most popular show on television around the turn of the century.

“It’s better to be hot,” Philbin once said of theme show. “It’s fun. I know this business. I was perfectly content with my morning show. People would ask me, ‘What’s next?’ There is nothing next. There are no more mountains for me to climb. Believe me when I tell you, all I wanted when I started this show in 1961 was to be a success nationally.”

Philbin is survived by his wife Joy and their three children, as well as by millions of fans who will never forget him.