Phil Robertson, the bearded patriarch of the hit reality TV show Duck Dynasty and founder of the Duck Commander hunting gear brand, has died at the age of 79. His death was confirmed by his son, Jase Robertson, in a social media post on Sunday, though no cause was mentioned. Jase had previously revealed on the family podcast that his father had early-stage Alzheimer’s and a blood disease.
Born on April 24, 1946, in Vivian, a rural town in northwest Louisiana, Robertson was one of seven siblings. He earned a football scholarship to Louisiana Tech University, where he played quarterback—briefly ahead of NFL legend Terry Bradshaw. He later earned degrees in physical education and education and worked as a teacher.
Unhappy with existing duck calls, Robertson crafted his own in 1972 and founded Duck Commander in 1973. His business grew into a multimillion-dollar company and laid the foundation for Duck Dynasty, the A&E reality series that ran for 11 seasons from 2012 to 2017 and drew as many as 12 million viewers at its peak. The show featured Robertson, his wife Kay, their sons and extended family, blending humor, hunting, faith, and family values.
Although initially opposed to appearing on television—saying, “I’m already as famous as I want to be”—Robertson was persuaded by his son Willie, who now runs Duck Commander. Willie explained that the show would expand his father’s platform to share his Christian beliefs.
Duck Dynasty became known for its offbeat humor and “guided reality” format, where producers staged scenarios that the family would act out naturally. It was one of the few shows to openly admit being semi-scripted.
Robertson was briefly suspended in 2013 after making controversial remarks about homosexuality in an interview, but A&E reinstated him after backlash from fans and the family’s warning that they would not continue without him.
Despite health struggles in later years, Robertson remained a central figure in the family and its brand, often sharing faith-based messages with his followers.