Regis Philbin fills Naperville fans in on his life after TV

• Reprints

Entertainer Regis Philbin waves to the crowd during his Q&A at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College in Naperville on Thursday. | Terence Guider-Shaw~For Sun-Times Media

Article Extras

Updated: January 5, 2012 8:10AM

Iconic TV host and author Regis Philbin gave fans the inside scoop on why he left “Live! With Regis and Kelly” when he spoke to them at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College in Naperville on Thursday evening.

“I left my show after 28½ years because it was enough already,” he joked.

The beloved 80-year-old star was in town to promote his latest book, “How I Got This Way,” brought to North Central by Anderson’s Bookstore. His appearance was the fifth in the college’s sesquicentennial season following other celebrity authors such as Tyra Banks.

Before signing books for around 500 fans, the five-time Emmy award winner talked to them about his recent motorcycle accident as well as taking them down memory lane with stories from his past.

“I took off, went about three feet, then got scared,” he confessed. “Fortunately I didn’t get hurt, but I should have told Letterman I did. Letterman said he was taking the scooter away and gave me a watch instead.”

Philbin told the audience that he’d eaten dinner at La Sorella di Francesca in downtown Naperville before coming to the Wentz.

After checking how to pronounce Naperville, he told them what a pretty town it was.

In his book, Philbin writes about people who have influenced and inspired him over the years.

“The first guy to impress me was Bing Crosby,” he said. “I was 6 years old in the 1930s, and my parents asked me what I wanted to do. I couldn’t tell them I wanted to be Bing Crosby. I wanted to be in show business, but I didn’t know that.”

Years later, Philbin said Crosby was a guest when he was working on the “Joey Bishop Show.” After Crosby sang, Philbin sang to him and Crosby hummed along.

“I was thrilled to death. I loved Bing Crosby, and I should have told him that night that I did; but I didn’t, and I regretted it ever since,” he said. “You must always tell someone what they mean to you.”

Allison Council of Plainfield described Philbin as “the best talk show host ever.” She has watched the show being taped in New York and was thrilled when he signed a book for her after his talk at NCC. Proudly showing the photos she still carries on her phone, she said: “I can’t believe he is in my own backyard. When I met him, I was shaking and crying. When you see people like him on television every day, you feel like they are family.”

Teddee Purcell of Carol Stream added: “He is very endearing. He has warmth and is really genuine. He loves his fans.”

Mike Cartolano of Naperville said he had never met a real celebrity before.

“I loved the chemistry he had with Kelly, the way they would interact,” he said. “He’s very interesting. There’s a lot of history there.”