Talk show host Regis Philbin has a disabled son, Danny, who is unemployed and trying to make ends meet by selling handcrafts. Danny is from Regis' first marriage. He was born with a spinal cord defect and grew up at Angel View Crippled Children's Foundation in California. He is now wheelchair bound after undergoing a double amputation made necessary by his condition. Regis also has daughter Amy with his first wife, and daughters Joanna and Jennifer with his second wife, Joy.
Danny Philbin has a college degree from California State University and used to hold a position at the Pentagon. He has been out of work for three years now and is struggling to get by in Cathedral City, California. Danny's wife spoke to the National Enquirer, and said that her husband is too proud to ask his wealthy dad for help at all, even though they're so broke they have to resort to borrowing money for groceries.
"Our finances have gotten so bad we had to file for debt consolidation, and we barely have enough money to eat. Sometimes we have to borrow money from friends to buy food!" Judy [Philbin] told The Enquirer.
"To make ends meet, Danny has taken odd jobs. He worked for a while at a bookstore and more recently, he's been working 12-hour days making decorated light switch covers to sell at weekend craft fairs.
"But at this point, we don't even have enough money to pay the $70 fee for a booth at a craft fair!"
Judy is appealing to her famous father-in-law through The Enquirer because she says: "Danny is too afraid to ask his father for help."
In our Dec. 15 issue, we reported the disabled 43-year-old was selling craft items to help pay medical bills, while his wife was doing in-home health care in Cathedral City, Calif.
[From The National Enquirer, print edition, January 5, 2008]
What's more is that like many families their debt problems were worsened when Judy lost her job and her health insurance, resulting in high medical expenses.
Judy says her husband is "hurting emotionally, but he just won't open up to his father." She also says he's in a lot of pain and his condition is getting worse.
We don't know their situation beyond this brief story so it doesn't seem fair to judge Regis for not supporting his son. It's possible that Regis has no idea that his son is broke without health insurance. From what Judy is saying, Danny is just too stubborn and proud to ask for Regis' help at all. Family relationships are complicated and maybe Regis and Danny had a falling out at some point and don't speak. There's probably much more going on than we're hearing and it's possible Regis loaned Danny money in the past and there are hard feelings. It's sounds like Danny and his wife are really struggling though and maybe Regis will try to help them after this story gets out.
The latest National Enquirer, with Marc Anthony's supposed reunion with his ex-wife on the cover, has photos of Danny and his wife.
Regis Philbin is shown at the Academy Awards on 2/22/08. Credit: PRPhotos
WRITTEN BY CELEBITCHY
Posted in Family, Regis Philbin
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43 RESPONSES TO "REGIS PHILBIN'S DISABLED SON IS BROKE AND OFTEN CAN'T AFFORD GROCERIES"
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RReedy: December 27th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
This is sad. Very sad.
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vdantev: December 27th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Is that your final answer?
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boomchakaboom: December 27th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
As a parent it's inconceivable to think of your child, no matter what age he/she is or what kind of stormy relationship there may be, going through such difficult times as described above and not helping in any way possible. It's just not right to not help anyone if you can, and especially your own child.
My parents and I often clashed over just about everything and our relationship was usually a disaster in every sense of the word. BUT when true hardship hit me and my life literally blew up in pieces (which happened way too often, frankly), they were always there for me. They were the one constant I could always count on to bail my dumb ass out of whatever predicament I was in. They taught me what being a parent was really about. It's about love. Love without question or strings attached.
Regis should, and surely will, knock himself out getting aid to his son. He's certainly able financially, and it would definitely be the right thing to do on every level. If not, then Regis will go down on my shit list forever.
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Leandra: December 27th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
It would be unthinkable for me to allow my son to suffer like this. Is Regis so out of touch with his son that he can't see for himself how dire his situation is? Come on, Regis, throw your disabled, out of work son a lifeline.
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pebbles: December 27th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
wow, Regis is a prick
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Kerri: December 27th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
This whole story reeks of bull. So if he has a degree and previously worked for the Pentagon, what kind of disability is holding him back from getting a job in the same field? Apparently he has use of his hands if he is making light switch covers. Just because parts of your body don't work correctly doesn't mean your mind doesn't work. (I highly doubt he played soccer professionally for the Pentagon, you know?) And if you knew that your husband was too embarrassed to ask his father for help, would you further the problem by going to the National Enquirer to talk about it? And who is to say that Regis hasn't offered help only to be rebuffed? I mean, if he was too "embarrassed" to ask, don't you think he would politely decline when offered money from wealthy Dad? Too many plot holes. Two thumbs down, Enquirer.
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Baholicious: December 27th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Not that I usually give much weight to a lot of what he says, but Howard Stern's had Regis on his shit list for a long time. According to him, Regis has pretty much ignored his son's existence in general. So here's Philbin on one hand and on the other (surprisingly to some I would guess) is Jerry Springer, who is a very devoted father to his disabled daughter.
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Kristen: December 27th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Doesn't anyone else find it ridiculous that the wife went to the Enquirer, of all places? I mean, if her husband is so proud that he won't ask his dad for help, do you really think he'd be happier with her going to the tabloids? Sheesh.
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Donna: December 27th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
since when is the national enquirer or howard stern considered credible sources? i will wait to form my opinion.
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Baholicious: December 27th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
@Donna, that's why I lead my comment with that 'disclaimer' re: Stern. However, he was pretty adamant about it though and emotionally upset. He'd seen Philbin interact with his son apparently. I think there's mention of it in his book 'Private Parts' and I should go back and check to see. If it's published there, it's true or he would've been sued for libel years ago. And too, Philbin would count on 'who the hell pays attention to Howard Stern anyway?' but a lot of people do. Just sayin.'
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Mrs.Ezc: December 27th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
It makes me ill to think of how much money these "celebrities" make while there are hard working "college" educated people making next to nothing this country is so backwards! Regis needs to take care of his kids his son shouldn't even have to ask!! As a father he should just do it!!
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Lore: December 27th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
If a person doesn't actively love and care for his children of any age how can he love anyone at all?
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yadira: December 27th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Regis is getting older and it's not like he can take the money with him when he passes so might as well put it to good use.
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prissa: December 27th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I'm with Kristen, couldn't she have oh I don't know - maybe picked up the phone or wrote a letter to Regis? Unless, he is really a prick and going national is the only way to pressure him into helping
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Rosanna: December 27th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
@ Kristen: she probably did it because she was being paid for that interview.
On the specific issue of supporting your disabled parent/son: it depends on the kind of person s/he is. Now, I am disabled myself - so I don't have prejudices against disabled people - *however* some are professional whiners and blame all their shortcomings on others.
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Bodhi: December 27th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
What exactly is a "college" educated person? I mean, I went to college & got a degree & I consider myself college educated, not "college" educated.
By this account, Danny has a degree & worked at the Pentagon, so I've not really sure what the point was anyway
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Jojo: December 27th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Too proud to go to his father for help, yet he doesn't seem to have any problem pandering to the media!!
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NotBlonde: December 27th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
As Celebitchy says, there seems to be a lot more to this story than meets the eye. There are tons of reasons why a parent could be estranged from their child, it isn't all that uncommon. And disabled people can be jackasses too. Them being disabled doesn't float a magic fairy wand of goodness over them and make them good people. I've known really cool, very nice disabled people and others who are just pricks.
So, I would go with Celebitchy in saying that it would be best to stay out of this mess as it is really no one's business but theirs and no one knows exactly why Regis is ignoring his son.
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cara: December 27th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
this is sorta old news. regis's son was on the howard stern show about 15 yers ago saying that reg didn't help him out at all, and howard called him out on it, regis - that is. so i'm buying it.
ps i just saw baholicious's comment
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Baholicious: December 27th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
@Bodhi: Not sure about the "college" (in quotations like it's a fly-by-night operation, which happens) thing. In Canada we make a very clear distinction between 'college' and 'university.' The former here refers to a community college which is essentially more practical-based education. Colleges offer diplomas and universities offer degrees. My experience has been that when Americans refer to 'college' they usually mean university.
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Mae Wilson: December 27th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
This is old news for sure. His son went public many years ago, basically blackmailing his father for some more money. I guess he and his wife went through that stash and now they're looking for more.
There isn't a kinder more charitable person than Regis. He has donated so much to great causes as well as his time. It's very hard to believe that he turned his back on his disabled son. Why did his son lose his job? All of a sudden, his wife is talking to the National Enquirer about being broke? Sounds very fishy to me.
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Leandra: December 28th, 2008 at 12:29 am
I think if the son and his wife burn through the money, then Regis could give them only so much per month and once they go through that then too bad. What's a few thousand a month to Regis? Surely he could afford that. He's not obligated to have contact with them but throwing them a bone of modest proportions would help them out at least.
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NotBlonde: December 28th, 2008 at 1:01 am
If I had kids who were adults and kept asking me for money, I'd wonder what the hell was wrong. Why did he lose his job at the Pentagon? Why can't he get a similar job with the government?
I wouldn't give my kids money that they just blew through every month and then came back with their hands out for more.
Of course we don't know what the situation is exactlybut that's just my thoughts.
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Shay: December 28th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Regis is a prick? Even though they admit he may not even know Danny is in trouble? He's too stubborn to ask for help but doesn't have enough pride to take money from a smut mag? The guy is an adult and he has no excuse if he didn't ask Regis for help before trying to throw dirt at him.
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guest: December 28th, 2008 at 1:40 am
as much money as regis has, his son and his family should be set for life.
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Bobby the K: December 28th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Really, I question the wisdom of going to a tabloid, or any media for that matter.
And so far we have heard exactly one side of the story, so i'm happy to wait for more.
It's funny that Regis and Letterman are such good friends, because i think Letterman and Stern are friends as well..
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dovesgate: December 28th, 2008 at 5:01 am
I'd want to know why the son lost his job with the government. It is hard to lose your job with any government agency unless you've screwed up very badly.
Regardless, there is still a point up to which many parents will help and while some don't ever have a limit even when when they should, it sounds like Regis has passed his point. If I were famous and a child of mine went to the tabloids instead of me, there is no way I'd help. Tell everyone I'm a bad guy? Fine, thats what I'll be.
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HallieB: December 28th, 2008 at 5:19 am
The son is disabled. There have been stories floating around for years that Regis had little to do with his older kids. One story a couple of years ago was that the son was very sick and lost his job due to this and the question was asked why Regis did not help him. One might ask why his son grew up in a home rather than with a parent. Regis has plenty of money, he could have set up a trust to help with the son's expenses as many parents of disabled children do.
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