Today, May 25, the Duck Dynasty family and millions of fans across the country are mourning the loss of a beloved patriarch. Phil Robertson, the outspoken, God-fearing founder of Duck Commander and star of the hit reality show Duck Dynasty, has died at the age of 79.
Phil passed away peacefully at his home in Louisiana, surrounded by his wife Miss Kay, his children, and grandchildren. While the family had not publicly disclosed his health struggles in recent months, a statement released this morning confirms that Phil had been battling health issues quietly, with strength and dignity.
“Our hearts are heavy today,” the Robertson family said in a joint statement. “Phil was the rock of our family. He lived a life of faith, boldness, and purpose — and he left this world the same way he lived in it: with peace in his heart and his Bible in his hand.”
Born in 1945 in Vivian, Louisiana, Phil Robertson built a life that was anything but ordinary. A former football standout at Louisiana Tech — where he famously turned down the starting quarterback spot ahead of future NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw — Phil instead chose a simpler life, one grounded in the outdoors and his Christian faith.
He would go on to invent the now-famous Duck Commander duck call, a creation that launched a family empire and eventually led to one of the most-watched reality shows in cable history.
From 2012 to 2017, Duck Dynasty captivated audiences with its mix of hunting adventures, family values, humor, and heartfelt prayer. At the center of it all was Phil — the long-bearded patriarch whose no-nonsense wisdom, faith-first lifestyle, and love for God and country made him a household name.
“He never cared about being famous,” son Willie Robertson said. “He cared about being faithful — to God, to our family, and to what he believed in.”
Though often controversial for his outspoken views, Phil’s message was always clear: repentance, redemption, and the power of living a life rooted in Jesus Christ. Behind the tough exterior was a man who had walked through darkness, overcome addiction, and used his platform to point others to grace.
Fans across the country have flooded social media with prayers and memories. Many recall Phil’s signature phrases like “Happy, happy, happy” or his classic dinner table prayers that ended every episode.
“We’ll miss his voice, his stories, and his laugh,” said his oldest son Alan Robertson. “But we take comfort knowing he’s home now — where there’s no more pain, no more confusion. Just peace.”
Phil Robertson leaves behind his wife of more than 55 years, Kay, four sons — Alan, Jase, Willie, and Jep — dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a legacy that will live on through faith, family, and duck calls.
Rest in peace, Phil. You were one of a kind — and your life changed more people than you’ll ever know.