Phil Robertson, reality star and pro-life advocate, has died at 79

Phil Robertson, the outspoken Christian pro-lifer who rose to fame after starring in the Duck Dynasty reality TV series, has died at 79 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year.

Robertson was an avid duck hunter who, in 1973, founded Duck Commander, offering more realistic duck calls for hunters and eventually creating everything from hunting gear to lifestyle products. The success eventually led to the A&E series Duck Dynasty, which made the Robertson family internationally famous.

Pro-life values

In addition to their hunting gear company and over-the-top beards, Robertson and his family were notable because most are outspoken about their Christian faith and are openly pro-life, following the example of their patriarch.

Robertson’s younger days were full of alcohol, drugs, and casual sex before finding his faith, and he tried to use his fame to educate others, including on abortion, which he ardently opposed.

In a speech to Prestonwood Pregnancy Center in Texas, he spoke of how his generation normalized abortion and the devastating effects it had on our culture. “You can only run sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll so far. The bottom line is, what came out of that movement is what you’re now witnessing. They had little innocent names; they called us ‘hippies’ and ‘flower children,'” he said. “That movement lured 60 million babies out of their mothers’ wombs. What came out of that are universities that take our children and warp their minds – the ungodliness is literally rampant. All of the diseases that go with immorality, all of that stuff came out of my generation.”

He also spoke about abortion in a 2014 speech at the Outdoor Extravaganza at the CenturyLink Center, before thousands of outdoor and hunting enthusiasts. Speaking about the need to vote responsibly, he said, “If the dude or woman is for ripping human fetuses out of their mother’s womb, don’t ever vote for that. Don’t ever say ‘yes’ to that. It’s terrible.”

Personal pro-life story

In his personal life, Robertson had a child from an affair, whose existence he didn’t know about, but when they finally made contact, he said it was a blessing for his family.

“God is a God that restores broken people. I was a broken mess, a slave to my desire,” he said. “God redeemed me 45 years ago, but He didn’t stop there. Forty-five years later, God is continuing to restore me. He has brought me to my long-lost daughter, and I love her.”

The Robertson family likewise travels the country spreading a pro-life message, even long after the cancellation of their show. An upcoming revival of the show has been scheduled to begin in June, though the family will now have to forge ahead without the guidance of their patriarch.

A cause of death was not given, but Robertson’s son, Jase Robertson, shared that his father was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s last December. “My dad has gone to be with the Lord today!” he wrote on his Instagram page on Monday. “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!