Regis Philbin's Emotional Last Day on 'Live!'

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Despite previously promising to remain tear-free during his farewell celebration, Regis Philbin's last day on Live! With Regis & Kelly proved to be an emotional one.

ABC had plenty of surprising tributes for the legendary host, including a plaque installed with his name and face on it outside of ABC studio's building presented to him by President and Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger, and the Broadway cast of Rent singing Seasons of Love, but changing the lyrics to honor the 995,600 minutes Philbin has been on-air.

But Philbin appeared to be the most emotional during co-host Kelly Ripa's speech.

"Your light is what shined around all of us and made us look so bright for so long," a teary-eyed Ripa said. "I look forward to the next 43 steps [the amount of steps Ripa said it takes the two to walk from the dressing room to the set every day] and may it fill you with the joy that you've filled all of us with for all of these years."

Philbin kept his farewell words short and sweet, saying that his greatest achievement was making people "happy."

"Some people ask why has the show stayed on so long and I think it's answered to me every time people tell me why they watch it," he said. "They watch it they say because it makes them feel better. And it can't get better than that. It makes them happy, and I'll never be able to top that."

Check out the video to see Philbin's final walk backstage and his farewell words after 28 years of hosting the iconic morning show.