Kathie Lee Gifford Says She Is ‘Missing’ Regis Philbin 5 Years After His Death: ‘Forever Grateful’

Kathie Lee Gifford revealed that she is always “missing” longtime friend Regis Philbin nearly five years after the famed TV personality died.

The retired Today star, 71, shared a throwback photo of the two along with a sentimental message about the bond they formed after cohosting Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (originally titled The Morning Show) from 1985 to 2000.

“Forever grateful for the moments shared and the laughter we spread,” she added in her Instagram caption on February 7.

In the photo, both smiled brightly while on set and Regis showed off his bicep.

Fans may recall the memorable duo were both nominated for Outstanding Talk Show Host during the Daytime Emmy Awards for eight years in a row from 1993 to 2000.

After she announced her exit from Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, he made sure to give his close pal a proper farewell.

“Kathie Lee, you want to know the best part of my life? My TV life? Was in the 15 years I spent with you,” Regis said in a heartwarming video message amid her departure.

“We stayed friends through the entire game and it was a lot of fun. I know you’re going to be moving on to a great new career, making movies. And since I’ve seen the first one, I know you’re going to be a great success. I really mean it. I want you to know how I will always remember the great times that we had working together and how you are as a person: just great.”

Following their wildly successful cohosting gig, Kathie Lee went on to lend her talents to the Today show, hosting alongside Hoda Kotb from 2008 to April 2019. Kathie Lee was later replaced by Jenna Bush Hager.

Kelly Ripa eventually landed the gig alongside Regis in February 2001, sharing the desk with the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? icon on Live! With Regis and Kelly until his retirement in November 2011.

“This will be my last year on this show,” Regis said while announcing his exit that January at the start of his show. “It was the biggest thrill of my life … There is a time that everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people.”

Regis, who set a Guinness World Record for Most Hours on Camera in 2004, died from a heart attack due to coronary artery disease in July 2020 at the age of 88. Kathie Lee recalled “bantering and bickering and laughing ourselves silly” while sharing a statement honoring his memory.

“He had been depressed in the weeks and months earlier, because of the COVID,” she later shared about the pandemic during an October 2020 appearance on The Talk.

“You know, Regis couldn’t perform anywhere, nobody was out and about, he couldn’t be Regis for people, you know? And it broke his heart.”

“One of his dearest friends had just recently died of COVID,” Kathie Lee continued. “He was pretty much in a depression, I think. Regis just lived to make people happy. He certainly made me happy for the 35 years that we were great friends.”