Louisiana ‘Duck Dynasty’ star Phil Robertson dead at 79

LOUISIANA — ‘Duck Dynasty’ TV star Phil Robertson has died at age 79, according to Robertson’s son Jase.

Phil Robertson has been battling Alzheimer’s disease since late 2024.

Phil Robertson was an American entrepreneur, television personality, and devout Christian, best known as the patriarch of the Robertson family featured on the A&E reality series Duck Dynasty.

He passed away on May 25, 2025, at the age of 79, following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born in 1946 in Vivian, Louisiana, Robertson was the fifth of seven children in a family that lived in modest conditions without modern amenities.

He attended Louisiana Tech University, where he was a standout quarterback, even starting ahead of future NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw. Despite opportunities to play professionally, Robertson chose to leave football, prioritizing his passion for duck hunting.

In the early 1970s, Robertson invented a duck call that closely mimicked the sound of a real duck, leading to the founding of Duck Commander in 1973.

The company, based in West Monroe, Louisiana, grew into a multimillion-dollar enterprise under the leadership of his son, Willie Robertson .

The Robertson family’s lifestyle and business were spotlighted in the reality TV show Duck Dynasty, which aired from 2012 to 2017. The show became a cultural phenomenon, attracting millions of viewers and showcasing the family’s Christian faith and Southern values .

Beyond television, Robertson authored several books, including Happy, Happy, Happy and UnPHILtered, and co-hosted the podcast Unashamed with Phil & Jase Robertson.

His life story was also depicted in the 2023 biographical film The Blind, which chronicled his early life and personal struggles before achieving fame.

Robertson married his high school sweetheart, Marsha “Miss Kay” Carroway, in 1966. They had five children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In the mid-1970s, after a period of personal turmoil, Robertson experienced a religious awakening that led him to become a devout Christian and outspoken advocate for his faith.