Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson dead at 79

Phil Robertson, who turned his small duck-calling interest in northern Louisiana into a big business and was the head of the family featured on the reality show Duck Dynasty, died Sunday, according to his family. He was 79.

Robertson's family announced in December on their Unashamed with the Robertson Family podcast that the patriarch of the clan had Alzheimer's disease. A statement on social media from Robertson's daughter-in-law didn't mention how he died.

"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," Korie Robertson wrote.

Phil Robertson skyrocketed to fame in the early 2010s when the A&E network created Duck Dynasty, a reality show presented like a sitcom, which ran for 11 seasons. It followed the adventures of Robertson, his three sons — including Willie, who runs the family's Duck Commander company — their wives and a host of other relatives and friends.

Phil Robertson and his boys were immediately recognizable by their long beards and their conservative, Christian and family-oriented beliefs.

That got Robertson into trouble, too. He told a magazine reporter in 2013 that gay people are sinners and African Americans were happy under Jim Crow laws. A&E suspended him from Duck Dynasty, but reversed course in a few weeks after a backlash that included former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

At the time, Robertson's family called his comments coarse, but said his beliefs were grounded in the Bible and he "is a godly man." They also said that "as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm."

Robertson was born in north Louisiana and spent his life in the woods and lakes that make up the region called Sportsman's Paradise.

Robertson played football at Louisiana Tech and taught school. He also loved to hunt and created a duck call in the early 1970s that he said replicated the exact sound of a duck.

The calls were the centrepiece of the Duck Commander business Robertson would grow into a multimillion-dollar enterprise before A&E came calling. The family just didn't sell outdoor and hunting gear, but a lifestyle.

"The Robertsons face everything from beavers to business deals in their own special way — with a twist of down-home practicality and a sharp sense of humour," A&E wrote in its promotion for Duck Dynasty.

Tributes pour in

Appreciation for Robertson appeared on social media shortly after this death was announced, largely from conservative politicians.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas, wrote on X: "The great #PhilRobertson passed today. He loved Jesus and he was utterly fearless. One of my fondest memories was duck hunting with Phil — he was the best shot I ever met. And, in 2016, he recorded this amazing commercial for me. Rest in peace, my friend."

"Saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson — a man of deep faith, bold conviction, and unwavering love for his family," wrote Ben Carson, former housing and urban development secretary, also on X. "I'll never forget the time I spent with Phil and his wonderful family at their homestead in West Monroe, La. We rode through the swamp, stopping at his favourite duck blinds before being welcomed by Miss Kay with a warm, home-cooked meal, surrounded by their extended family and close friends."

A&E shared its own tribute to the Duck Dynasty X account, writing: "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."