‘Duck Dynasty’ Patriarch Phil Robertson Dead at 79

Phil Robertson — the popular leader of Duck Dynasty‘s Robertson family — died on Sunday.

Family shared the news on social media, with granddaughter Sadie Robertson sharing a particularly poignant photo carousel of memories on Instagram.

Duck Dynasty was a popular A&E show from 2012 to 2017.
A reboot called Duck Dynasty: The Revival is scheduled to begin on June 1.
Phil Robertson had been dealing with several serious health issues in recent months.

“We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,” Korie Robertson, wife to Phil’s son Willie, shares just after 7PM CT on Sunday (May 25). She went on to thank those who thought of or prayed for Phil, and made clear that his calling to be a servant of God and Jesus was of utmost priority in life.

“We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again.”

Neither she nor Sadie referred to his caused of death, but his family had been honest about that since late 2024.

How Did Phil Robertson Die?

Last December, Phil Robertson’s son Jase Robertson revealed his dad was suffering from Alzheimer’s during an episode of their Unashamed Podcast. Soon after, Willie would share more.

Talking to Fox News, he shared that his dad fractured his back and was suffering as he recovered. He also had a blood disorder that was causing his body to produce too much blood, which led to mini-strokes.

“It’s hard with the mental stuff,” Willie shared. “It’s hard to determine exactly what these causes are, especially with early signs, it’s hard to determine brain damage from stroke or is that Alzheimer’s?”

An enlarged spleen made things even worse. Since Christmas, the Robertsons have not tried to sugarcoat their father’s health. He was not expected to appear in the Duck Dynasty reboot this summer.

“We know so many of you love him and have been impacted by his life,” Korie writes. “We’re having a private service for now, but we’ll share details soon about a public celebration of his life.”

While she didn’t share when Phil Robertson died, Sadie alluded to sitting with him earlier on Sunday. Alongside nine photos from her wedding, her time with him as a little girl and both of her grandparents together, she said she thought about a verse from the Bible, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

“He has already experienced this on earth—going from dead to alive by the power of Christ,” she says.

“It was his testimony that changed his life, our families life, and thousands of others. Now he is experiencing it in the fullness. Fully alive in Christ. The new has come.”

Phil Robertson’s redemption story was a central part of the family’s popularity. In their own ways, they’ve all continued to spread his gospel with him or in his absence. In 2023, a movie called The Blind told his story.

‘Duck Dynasty’: What Happened to the Kids?

Duck Dynasty was centered on the lives of Willie, Si, Phil and Jase Robertson, but their respective children and grandchildren became breakout stars, too. Here is what each of the Dynasty children have been up to since the A&E reality show ended in 2017. There are marriages, career achievements and babies — so many babies.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes