Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the Robertson family featured in A&E’s reality series Duck Dynasty, has died at age 79. The Robertson family announced his passing through social media posts on Sunday, May 25.
Robertson had been battling Alzheimer’s disease, a diagnosis that his family publicly disclosed in December. His son Jase Robertson shared the news of his father’s death on X, stating that Phil had “gone to be with the Lord.” Granddaughter Sadie Robertson Huff posted a tribute on Instagram featuring family photos spanning multiple years.
Willie Robertson and his wife, Korie Robertson, released a joint statement on Instagram announcing that Phil “is now with the Lord.” They thanked supporters whose lives had been impacted by Robertson’s life and indicated plans for both a private service and a future public celebration of his life.
The Alzheimer’s diagnosis was first revealed on the December 6 episode of the Unashamed with the Robertson Family podcast. Jase Robertson described his father as being in the “early stages” of the disease at that time. He later explained that the condition had “accelerated” and was affecting Robertson’s entire body, noting that his father was “really struggling.”
During an April 2 podcast episode, Jase provided an update on his father’s condition, describing Phil as “not good” and explaining that the family was focused on keeping him comfortable.
Duck Dynasty premiered on A&E and chronicled the Robertson family members, including Phil and Kay Robertson, along with their sons Jase, Willie, and Jep, plus grandchildren and employees, as they operated their family business, Duck Commander. The series concluded in 2017 after 11 seasons and generated several spinoff shows, including Going Si-Ral, Jep & Jessica: Growing the Dynasty, At Home with the Robertsons, and Duck Family Treasure. A&E announced in January that Duck Dynasty: The Revival would return to the network.
Phil Robertson, a Louisiana native, established Duck Commander in 1972, founding the hunting company around a patented duck call design. He married Kay when she was 17 years old, following her pregnancy with their first son. The Robertson family has expanded significantly since the original series ended, with many younger family members starting families of their own.
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