Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” Dies at 79

According to cinemadrame News Agency, Phil Robertson, star of A&E’s “Duck Dynasty,” has passed away at 79. The Robertson family confirmed his passing on social media. It was announced last December that Robertson had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

The Robertson family wrote on Facebook and Instagram: “He reminded us of Paul’s words: ‘Do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.'”

Another part of the statement read: “We know many of you loved him and his life impacted you. The funeral will be private, but we will soon release details about a public memorial.”

Robertson’s son, Jase, had previously stated that his father was “not doing well” and was “really struggling.” He added on the “Unashamed” podcast that “some kind of blood issue caused all these problems. It’s progressed rapidly and caused issues throughout his whole body.”

Parts of Robertson’s life were depicted in the biographical film “The Blind.” Directed by Andrew Hyatt and written by Stephanie Katz, the film followed Robertson’s life in Louisiana from the 1960s and his struggles with addiction that brought his family to the brink of collapse. That film grossed $17 million in the U.S.

Robertson, best known for his religious views, rose to fame with the series “Duck Dynasty,” which aired from 2012 to 2017. In the series, he showcased his multi-million dollar duck call business and broke A&E’s viewership records. In 2013, Robertson was suspended from the show due to an “anti-gay” interview with GQ magazine, but his suspension lasted only 10 days due to fan protests.

Some episodes of “Duck Dynasty” garnered over 9 million viewers. The series is currently available on Fox Nation, which also produced another series called “Duck Family Treasure” in 2022.

A&E confirmed a few months ago the production of a “Duck Dynasty” reboot, “Duck Dynasty: The Revival,” which will premiere on June 1. This series focuses on the legacy of Willie Robertson and his wife Korie Robertson. At the time, it was announced that Phil Robertson would not be appearing in this series due to health issues.

Robertson had published a memoir titled “Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy” in 2013.