Phil Robertson, whose company and family became the center of the popular A&E television series “Duck Dynasty,” died just months after receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, his family said on Sunday. Robertson was 79.

In a social media post, the Robertson family said their “father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord.” An avid outdoorsman, Robertson invented his first duck call in 1972, which was patented, and he started his company the next year. Decades later — under the leadership of his son, Willie — Duck Commander became a multi-million-dollar business and was featured in the show “Duck Dynasty,” which aired for 11 seasons between 2012 and 2017 and became one of the most-watched reality shows on TV.

Robertson is survived by his wife, Kay, his sons Alan, Jase, Jep, and Willie, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Robertson’s condition seemed to worsen in recent months, according to his son, Jase, who said in December that the Alzheimer’s “accelerated, and it’s causing problems with his entire body,” adding, “He’s just not doing well. He’s really struggling.”

On the show and in his life, Robertson often spoke about his Christian faith and how God guided him out of poverty and gave him a successful business and loving family.

“He reminded us so 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 wrote. “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. 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.”

Robertson grew up with six siblings in a poor Louisiana family, and from an early age, hunting became an important part of his life. In high school, Robertson excelled in multiple sports and earned a scholarship to play quarterback at Louisiana Tech University. He played two seasons in 1966 and 1967, winning the starting quarterback role ahead of the legendary Terry Bradshaw, who went on to be selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft and won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Robertson didn’t come back to play in the 1968 season, instead choosing to pursue his passion for hunting.

“Terry went for the bucks, and I chased after the ducks,” Robertson said.

Robertson married Marsha Kay Carroway in 1966, and the couple had four children together, including other “Duck Dynasty” stars Jase, Willie, and Jep. The two remained married until Robertson’s death.

Robertson also spoke out about his conservative political views and was a supporter of President Donald Trump, appearing on stage alongside the president at a rally in West Monroe, Louisiana, in 2019. Jase told conservative podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey in February that Robertson shared the message of Jesus personally with Trump during the 2016 campaign, a message that the president remembered nearly four years later.

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“He shared the story of Jesus and he wrote it down, and so he handed the paper to President Trump, and he’s like, ‘You need to move on that. This needs to be the core of everything you do,'” Jase said. “So we’re fast-forwarding four years, and he came to Monroe, and my dad was there … and President Trump pulled out of his pocket that same gospel presentation that my dad had given to him four years before.”

“Duck Dynasty” shared a clip of some of Robertson’s moments on the show, posting on social media, “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson, a hunting industry pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson family. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and respect their privacy as they grieve.”

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson, a hunting industry pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson family. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and respect their privacy as they grieve. pic.twitter.com/UTlw1SvlcH

— Duck Dynasty (@DuckDynastyAE) May 26, 2025

Former FBI Director James Comey called the Republican Party “white supremacist adjacent” on MSNBC.

Comey was interviewed over the weekend by MSNBC host and former Biden White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

“One of the things that is happening now is that the Trump administration, of course, is testing the system in ways it hasn’t been tested before,” Psaki claimed. “In the law enforcement sense, do you think there are laws that should be put in place that would help better manage this, that aren’t in place now? I mean, are we equipped? Is the law enforcement system and the legal system equipped to deal with what we are seeing now?”

“Probably there could be changes at the margins, but in the main we have the tools; there are cultural impediments to doing this work,” Comey answered. “Let’s say you work in the FBI; you know that one of the two political parties is — let me put it nicely— white supremacist adjacent, at a minimum. And so why would you wanna throw your career on that side of the line and be summoned to Capitol Hill to be asked why you’re pursuing these innocent groups. And so we have a cultural impediment to working it effectively that should get more attention than it does.”

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In April 2019, Comey accused President Trump of “stirring” racism for his own political benefit, writing in the New York Times, “America has long had a radioactive racist soup in the center of our national life. Donald Trump thinks he is stirring it for political benefit. He’s actually doing something more dangerous.” He addressed Trump directly, saying, “You must stop trying to unleash and exploit the radioactive energy of racism.”

James Comey says the Republican Party are White supremacists.

He also called to ass*ssinate Trump.

He’s demonizing an entire group and calling for violence.

He knows exactly what he’s doing.pic.twitter.com/Fv5HUosbpn

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 26, 2025

Comey also attacked the GOP by accusing the party of ignoring principles, although he followed by suggesting — without any irony at all and ignoring the actions of the Biden presidency, that a Democratic president might implement investigations of the GOP. He stated, “I know Republicans these days aren’t big in thinking about principle or precedent; they’re gonna be deeply sorry that disappears because someday there’ll be a Democratic president and there will be investigations of Republican office holders. If I’m them (sic), I sure would want these career people in place making sure that it’s done in the right way.”