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Legendary television host Regis Philbin left the gig he was best known for — Live with Regis and Kelly — in November 2011, after hosting three variations of the show for 28 years.

The decision came nine years before Philbin died on July 24, 2020, at age 88.

But before we get into Philbin's Live exit, let's recap how the Connecticut native became a part of America's morning routine. Serving as the co-host of Live inside ABC Studios in New York, he was first joined by Kathie Lee Gifford when the show debuted as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee in 1988.

When Gifford exited the show after 12 years in 2000, Philbin was joined by Kelly Ripa after a six-month search for Gifford's replacement in 2001.

When Philbin left Live, viewers and many others did not exactly know why the host chose to leave.

In January 2011, when he announced that it would be his final year, Philbin only hinted that age was a factor.

"There is a time that everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people," he said, according

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