Phil Robertson, the beloved patriarch of the Robertson family and star of the hit reality show Duck Dynasty, has passed away at the age of 79.

His family shared the news on Sunday, May 25, through heartfelt posts on social media. The announcement comes just months after they revealed in December that Phil had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Phil’s son, Jase Robertson, posted a tribute on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“My dad has gone to be with the Lord today! He will be missed, but we know he is in good hands, and our family is good because God is very good! We will see him again!”

Phil’s granddaughter, Sadie Robertson Huff, also honored him with a touching Instagram post that included a series of family photos from over the years.

In a joint Instagram statement, Phil’s son Willie Robertson and his wife Korie shared:

“We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord.

Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been touched by his. We’re currently holding a private service, but we’ll share more soon about a public celebration of his life.”

Phil’s battle with Alzheimer’s was first discussed publicly in a December 6 episode of the Unashamed with the Robertson Family podcast. At the time, Jase said Phil was in the early stages of the disease, but in a follow-up episode on April 2, he noted that his father’s condition had worsened significantly.

“He’s just not doing well. He’s really struggling,” Jase shared. “We’re making him comfortable and doing the best we can.”

Phil Robertson rose to fame as the founder of Duck Commander, the family-run business that turned a patented duck call into a multi-million dollar company. The Louisiana native started the company in 1972 and helped launch the reality TV franchise that would bring his family into millions of homes.

Duck Dynasty aired on A&E for 11 seasons before wrapping in 2017. The series followed Phil, his wife Kay, their sons Jase, Willie, and Jep, along with grandchildren and employees, as they ran their family business in West Monroe, Louisiana. The show inspired multiple spinoffs including Jep & Jessica: Growing the Dynasty, At Home with the Robertsons, and Duck Family Treasure.

In January, A&E announced plans to bring back the series under a new title: Duck Dynasty: The Revival, set to premiere this summer.

Phil is survived by his wife Kay, whom he married when she was 17 after the couple learned they were expecting their first child. Over the years, the Robertson family has grown, with many of the younger cast members now raising families of their own.

A public memorial to celebrate Phil Robertson’s life will be announced soon.