Kathie Lee Gifford’s daughter Cassidy has paid tribute to Regis Philbin, her mother’s former television presenter, who died last week.
An actress, Cassidy, 26, visited Instagram on Saturday to send love to Philbin, but also to his late father, NFL star Frank Gifford, who died in 2015. Frank and Kathie Lee married in 1986 and stayed together. until his death. to natural causes.
In the post, Cassidy shared a photo of her father, arm in arm with Philbin, as they both have a wide smile.
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“The laughter that I know you two share together again in heaven is palpable …” wrote Cassidy. “I love you forever, Reeg.”
The legend ended with a red heart emoji.
Kathie Lee, 66, appeared on “Today” on Monday to talk about her lifelong friend, who starred alongside her in her daytime talk show “Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee” from 1985 to 2000. She revealed that the last time she saw Philbin was on a laugh-filled visit to his Connecticut home with his wife, Joy.
“I was so grateful that the Lord gave me that last time,” she said. “And it was very valuable because when I spoke to Joy the day I found out just after her death, she said, ‘Kathie wasn’t there.’ She didn’t laugh in a long, long time. She said, ‘I was so worried about him.'”
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“I think he was like Frank. He was ready, you know? … And she said, ‘The day we came to lunch with you was the last time I heard him laugh.’ That will forever be a precious gift that the Lord gave me. I had to laugh again with one of my best friends in all my life. “
Although he was happy to return to where he was with Philbin, he noted that his age was beginning to show during his last visit, giving him a subtle hint that it was time to prepare for his passing.
Regis Philbin (left) died at 88 from natural causes. He received a tribute from actress Cassidy Gifford, daughter of former Philbin television presenter Kathie Lee Gifford.
(Getty)
“I felt much more fragility than I had seen in him since the last time in January in Los Angeles,” he added. “We sit right here on my porch, and laugh sick. We always pick up right where we left off … After they left, I thought to myself, ‘Sir, is this the last time I go. To see my friend? Because he was failing, I realized. “
Philbin’s family confirmed the news of his death in a statement to Fox News on Saturday.
“We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved Regis Philbin passed away last night from natural causes, a month before his 89th birthday,” the statement said.
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“His family and friends are always grateful for the time we spent with him, for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his unique ability to make every day something worth talking about. We thank his fans and admirers for his incredible support throughout his 60-year career and asking for privacy as we mourn his loss, “he concluded.
Fox News’ Tyler McCarthy contributed to this report.
