Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest are paying tribute to Regis Philbin after his death. The Live With Kelly and Ryan hosts released a heartfelt joint statement on Saturday afternoon to reflect on their work with him, including Kelly’s 10 years as Regis’s onscreen partner.
“We are beyond saddened to learn about the loss of Regis Philbin,” Kelly and Ryan wrote on Instagram. “He was the ultimate class act, bringing his laughter and joy into our homes everyday on Live for more than 23 years. We were beyond lucky to have him as a mentor in our careers and aspire everyday to fill his shoes on the show. We send our deepest love and condolences to his family and hope they can find some comfort in knowing he left the world a better place.”
Regis died at age 88 of natural causes on July 24. He is survived by three daughters: Joanna and J.J. – whom he shared with his wife, Joy – and Amy, whom he shared with his first wife, Catherine Faylen.
