'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson dies at age 79
"Duck Dynasty" star and patriarch Phil Robertson has died, his family confirmed this week.
The reality star and businessman, who starred on the popular A&E series from 2012 to 2017, was 79.
"We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord," Robertson's family said in a statement Sunday, which was also shared to several family members' social media pages. "He reminded us often of the words of Paul, that we 'do not grieve like those 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.'"
"Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, by his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus," the statement continued. "We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again."
In an Instagram post Sunday, Phil Robertson's son Jase Robertson wrote, "My dad has gone to be with the Lord today! He will be missed but we know he is in good hands, and our family is good because God is very good! We will see him again!"
Son Willie Robertson also shared news of his father's death on Instagram, posting several throwback photos of the two together on his Instagram story.
Robertson's family announced in December last year that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, among other health issues.
"Phil's not doing well," his son Jase Robertson said in the Dec. 6 episode of the family's "Unashamed" podcast. "I think I spoke on the 1,000th podcast, we were trying to figure out the diagnosis, but according to the doctors, they're sure he has some sort of blood disease causing all kinds of problems. It's like accelerated, and it's causing problems with his entire body, and he has early stages of Alzheimer's."
He added, "We're trying to do a lot of things to figure out how to make him more comfortable, and maybe help with his memory. We've got a team of doctors, and they're all in agreement that there's no curing what he has. And so, what do you do? We're trying to make him a little more comfortable."
Phil Robertson founded the West Monroe, Louisiana-based hunting and outdoor recreation company Duck Commander in 1972. The company manufactures duck calls and duck-hunting equipment, as well as camo face paint, deer calls and deer-hunting equipment, fishing supplies and turkey-hunting merchandise, among other things. "Duck Dynasty," which ran from 2012 to 2017, followed the family-owned business, as well as the day-to-day lives of the family's members, including Phil Robertson and his wife Kay Robertson; his brother Si Robertson; Phil Robertson's sons Jase, Willie and Jep Robertson, who own and run the company; Willie Robertson's wife Korie Robertson; and more.
A&E announced a new "Duck Dynasty" series in January this year, titled "Duck Dynasty: The Revival," which is slated to premiere this summer. The new series "will follow Willie and Korie and their growing family of adult children and grandchildren, the next generation of Robertsons living on the family homestead in Louisiana," according to a press release.
"With their dynasty expanding into more than just ducks, Willie and Korie will bring their signature humor and family fun as they grapple with mapping out the future of Duck Commander, watching the kids navigate marriage, children and businesses of their own, and passing down the family legacy," the press release states.
Phil Robertson previously came under fire for comments he made about homosexuality in an interview with GQ in 2013 -- for which he was briefly suspended from the show before A&E reversed the decision days later -- as well as his controversial remarks at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference.
Phil Robertson shared his four sons -- Jase, Willie and Jep Robertson, as well as Al Robertson -- with wife Kay Robertson. Phil Robertson was also the father of an adult daughter named Phyllis from an extramarital affair.
