Phil Robertson — the star of the favored A&E actuality tv sequence Duck Dynasty, knowledgeable hunter and businessman — has died on the age of 79, his son and daughter-in-law introduced on social media as we speak. The Duck Commander patriarch was recognized with Alzheimer’s final December.
“We rejoice as we speak that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,” the household stated in a press release on Instagram and Fb. “He reminded us usually of the phrases of Paul, ‘you don’t grieve like those that don’t have any hope. For we imagine that Jesus died and rose once more, and so we imagine that God will deliver with Jesus those that have fallen asleep in him.’
The publish continued, “Thanks for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his daring religion, and by his need to inform everybody who would hear the Good Information of Jesus. We’re grateful for his life on earth and can proceed the legacy of affection for God and love for others till we see him once more.
“We all know so a lot of you’re keen on him and have been impacted by his life. We’re having a non-public service for now, however we’ll share particulars quickly a couple of public celebration of his life,” the assertion concluded, with a reference to 1 Corinthians 2.
Final 12 months, Robertson’s son Jase gave particulars about his father’s situation, noting that he was “simply not doing nicely” and “actually struggling,” he stated on the household’s Unashamed podcast. He added that the household’s focus on the time was to “make him extra comfy” amid an additional prognosis of “some kind of blood illness that’s inflicting all types of issues. It’s accelerated and it’s inflicting issues along with his complete physique.” Regardless of being in immense ache and going through reminiscence points, Jase Robertson stated his dad was eager to return to the Christianity podcast, which was first launched in 2019.
In 2023, Robertson’s life was the idea for Fathom Occasions’ biopic The Blind, which grew to become the corporate’s highest-grossing function upon launch. The religion-based movie, helmed by Andrew Hyatt and written by Stephanie Katz, traced Robertson’s origin story to Sixties Louisiana; as his demons and habit threaten to tear his household aside, he seeks redemption in an unlikely place. Starring Aron Von Andrian, Amelia Eve, Brielle Robillard and Matthew Erick White, the pic grossed upward of $17 million on the field workplace.
The Duck Dynasty patriarch first rose to prominence through the 11-season-run of the truth sequence, which ran from 2012 and 2017, documenting the close-knit Robertson clan and its multimillion-dollar looking and out of doors recreation enterprise. An leisure phenomenon, the A&E present broke viewership information all through its tenure, setting a number of information for most-watched episodes, most-watched sequence and most-watched telecast in A&E’s historical past. In 2013, Robertson was suspended by the cable community after he made anti-gay remarks in an interview with GQ; nonetheless, the suspension lasted not more than 10 days following fan outcry.
Recognized for his or her prolonged beards and Evangelical Christian views, a number of episodes drew greater than 9 million viewers with one of many seasons averaging 9.4 million viewers all through. The unique present now streams on Fox Nation, which launched followup Duck Household Treasure in 2022, centering on sons Jase Robertson and Jep Robertson.
Earlier this 12 months, A&E introduced a reboot of the mothership sequence, referred to as Duck Dynasty: The Revival, which will premiere June 1, specializing in inheritor to the Duck Commander legacy Willie Robertson and spouse Korie Robertson, as they navigate an expansive household life. The unique announcement famous that Phil Robertson wouldn’t seem within the present given his prognosis.
Robertson printed a memoir referred to as Joyful, Joyful, Joyful: My Life and Legacy because the Duck Commander alongside co-author Mark Schlabach in 2013. He attended Louisiana Tech College on a soccer scholarship and was thought to have the products to go professional, however was extra inquisitive about looking, finally receiving his bachelor’s after which grasp’s diploma in schooling from there.
An outspoken conservative and Christian, he married spouse Marsha Kay in 1966, and is survived by his 5 youngsters (together with a daughter from an extramarital affair), brother, daughter-in-law and 6 grandchildren.
