Profile Text
Philbin in 2003, image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Regis Francis Xavier Philbin
Date of Birth: August 25, 1931
Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: July 25, 2020
Place of Death: Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – Irish * mother – Italian, Arbëreshë/Albanian
Regis Philbin was an American television presenter, talk show host, game show host, actor, and singer. He was referred to as “the hardest working man in show business.”
He was raised in Van Nest, the Bronx. His father, Francis Xavier “Frank” Philbin, was of Irish descent, and was a U.S. marine and WWII veteran. His mother, Florence Filomena “Minnie” (Boscia), was born in Manhattan, to an Italian emigrant family, that also had Arbëreshë/Albanian ancestry. Her parents were from Greci, Avellino, an Arbëreshë town in Campania. The Arbëreshë are ethnic Albanians who moved to Italy. It is not clear how much Albanian ancestry Regis had. Regis was named after Regis High School, in Manhattan.
Regis was married to interior decorator Joy (Senese) Philbin, until his death. He had two children with his former wife Catherine “Kay” Faylen; and two children, including producer and writer J. J. Philbin, with Joy. Catherine was the daughter of actor Frank Faylen. J. J. is married to television producer Michael Schur .
Regis’s paternal grandfather was Edward Philbin (the son of Thomas Philbin and Anne O’Brien) Edward was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland.
Regis’s paternal grandmother was Julia Loretta McNally (the daughter of Arthur McNally and Catherine Wheeler). Julia was born in New York City, New York. Arthur was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, the son of Peter McNally and Mary Trainor. Catherine was born in New York, to Irish parents, John Wheeler and Mary.
Regis’s maternal grandfather was Nicola Maria “Nicholas” Boscia (the son of Giovanni Boscia and Placidia Annamaria Rosetti/Rossoto/Rosato). Giovanni was the son of Nicola Boscia and Maria Mascia. Regis’s great-grandmother Placidia was born in Greci, Avellino, the daughter of Michele Rosato and Lucia Di Carlo.
Regis’s maternal grandmother was named Anna Mary/Maria Palumbo.
Through his Arbëreshë ancestry, Regis was a distant (evidently seventh) cousin of musician and television personality Kara DioGuardi . The two discussed their relation on the show Live with Regis and Kelly .
Sources: Genealogies of Regis Pbilbin – https://www.wikitree.com https://www.findagrave.com
Birth record of Regis’s father – https://familysearch.org
Regis’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org