Regis Philbin Leaving ‘Live! With Regis and Kelly’

Philbin departs after 25 years; doesn’t give a date

Regis Philbin announced Tuesday he would leave "Live! With Regis and Kelly" around the end of this summer after hosting it for 25 years.

Disney-ABC Television Group plans to name a new personality to join Kelly Ripa, who replaced Kathie Lee Gifford as Philbin's guest host a decade ago.

"I'm not retiring," Philbin said at the end of Tuesday's show. "I am just moving on."

Philbin announced his exit at the top of the show. The energetic 79-year-old has been on the air since the 1950s. A three-time Emmy Award winner, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 2008.

He did not give an exact date for his last show.

Philbin, has had several health problems recently: He had a blood clot removed last year, hip-replacement in 2009, triple bypass surgery in 2007, and an angioplasty in 1993.

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