In a chat with People, Vieria admitted that one of the things she was going to miss the most about Philbin was his kindness.
She also revealed that Philbin's genuineness to his true self was what endeared her. To Vieira, Philbin never forgot his roots. She admitted that:
"He's in a league by himself or with just a handful of folks through the years. He was so good at conversation, so good at listening."
Meredith Vieira at Fontainebleau Hotel on January 21, 2020. | Photo: Getty Images
Vieira also said Philbin was a good listener and that he was always grateful for the things that he had while never putting anyone down.
One act of kindness Vieira said Regis Philbin showed to her, which she would never forget in her entire life, was when she wanted to start her show "The Meredith Vieira Show," in 2014.
TV Personality Meredith Vieira visits Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family" at Universal Studios Hollywood on October 9, 2019 | Photo: Getty Images
Vieira alluded that she was scared to go all out, but Philbin reached out to her and asked if there was any way or thing he could do to help her get the show running. She also said:
"There are a lot of great people in this industry, but there are a lot that, like in anything, maybe don't wish you well. Regis wished everybody well."
Regis Philbin was known for his long-lasting impact on Daytime shows until his death on July 24. He was a proud alumnus of Notre Dame University and a winner of multiple Daytime Emmy Awards.
Television host Regis Philbin a the 8th Annual NATPE Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards at Fontainebleau Miami Beach on January 25, 2011 | Photo: Getty Images
Philbin died at the age of 88, a month shy of his 89th birthday, and during his time on earth, he spent 60 of those years dedicated to hosting television shows.
According to his wife, Joy Philbin, and his daughters Joanna and Jenniffer, Philbin was a dedicated man who let everyone in and never looked down on anybody.
Regis and Joy Philbin attend the New York Spring Spectacular on March 26, 2015 | Photo: Getty Images
Like everyone who came across Philbin, Meredith, who recently almost lost her dog to a coyote attack, is grateful for having crossed paths with someone as genuine as Philbin.
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