A cause of death was not announced. Jase Robertson, one of Phil’s sons, said on their family podcast in December he was facing early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Robertson founded Duck Commander, a business making duck calls and other duck hunting supplies. “Duck Dynasty,” which ran from 2012-2017, followed “the close-knit clan behind a multi-million dollar sporting empire,” according to A&E.
“In the duck hunting world he was an innovator.. a man with an unwavering love for what he did best…and enjoyed most,” a statement on the Duck Commander Instagram page read.
Robertson was briefly suspended from the show in 2013 due to incendiary remarks he made about homosexuality in an interview with GQ magazine.
Robertson used language that his family later described as “coarse,” and A&E placed him on hiatus. Just days later, it was announced the series would resume filming with the entire family, including Robertson.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson, a hunting industry pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson family,” a statement on “Duck Dynasty’s” Facebook page said. “Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and respect their privacy as they grieve.”
“We know so many of you love him and have been impacted by his life. We’re having a private service for now, but we’ll share details soon about a public celebration of his life,” the family statement said.