”Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson has died. He was 79.
The tragic news was confirmed Sunday by his son, Willie Robertson, and other family members.
“We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,” an Instagram post read. “He reminded us often of the words of Paul, ‘You do not grieve like those who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.’”
The Robertson family statement went on to express gratitude for prayers and love from fans who Phil Robertson impacted through his life, the hit show “Duck Dynasty” — and his ministry.
“Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus,” the statement read. “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.”
The family is planning a private service to celebrate Robertson’s life and will soon share details about a public celebration of life. The statement concluded with a reference to 1 Corinthians 2.
As CBN News previously reported, Robertson’s son, Jase, revealed in April that the elder Robertson’s health was rapidly declining. He was diagnosed in December with a blood disorder and signs pointing to Alzheimer’s disease, among other issues.
“[I’ll] tell you the truth,” Jase Robertson said at the time. “It hasn’t been good.”
Phil Robertson’s journey to Jesus has been widely documented, with the feature film “The Blind” dramatically portraying his path to faith.
As CBN’s Faithwire has reported, Robertson has long inspired fans to get baptized and embrace the Gospel — and much of that effort is rooted in his own spiritual transformation.
Long before the Robertsons became household names and sparked nonstop laughs through their hit reality TV show “Duck Dynasty,” running on A&E from 2012 through 2017, Phil Robertson faced an arduous journey.
Far from the God-fearing man he became, early on in his marriage to his wife, Kay, Phil was an alcoholic who almost imploded his life — then he found Jesus.
His story of changing his life has inspired millions, with “The Blind” helping bring it to light.
“I’m embarrassed by my past on one side, but on the other, I’m unashamed because my rotten sins have been bought and paid for by blood,” Phil told CBN’s Faithwire in a statement in 2023. “If ‘The Blind’ brings one person to know the power of the blood of Jesus, it was worth it.’”
Read more about Phil Robertson here.
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