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Regis Francis Xavier Philbin was an American actor, comedian, singer, and television personality, who was best known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. For Disney, he voiced Typhon in the Hercules TV series. He also played himself in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, The Famous Jett Jackson, voiced himself in Lilo & Stitch: The Series, and guest-starred in the Phineas and Ferb spin-off Take Two with Phineas and Ferb. Additionally, he hosted the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade in the Magic Kingdom from 1991 to 2008, although he had taken part in it since the 1980s. He was also one of the celebrities featured in Superstar Limo.

Born in the Manhattan borough of New York City, Philbin attended Our Lady of Solace grammar school and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School. He later attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated in 1953 with a degree in sociology. He later served in the U.S. Navy as a supply officer Lieutenant Junior Grade and then went through a few behind-the-scenes jobs in television and radio before eventually getting into broadcasting. Philbin was well-known for hosting several daytime talk and game shows, such as Live! with Regis and Kelly (debuting as Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee in 1988), as well as the prime time U.S. version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, an international game show franchise that originated in the United Kingdom in 1998 and premiered in the United States in 1999, which aired on ABC.

Philbin's health began to decline in the 2010s; however, despite this, he continued to host many shows and specials until his death in 2020 from coronary artery disease.

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  • According to the directors on the 2002 Special Edition film's audio commentary for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Philbin originally auditioned for the voice of the Beast. However, the role went to Robby Benson instead.

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