Phil Robertson cause of death: How did the Duck Dynasty star die?

Phil Robertson, the star of the popular reality television series Duck Dynasty , passed away on May 25. He was 79. His death followed a battle with Alzheimer's disease, which had been publicly disclosed by his family in December 2024.


Health struggles of Robertson:

Phil Robertson’s health deteriorated significantly, as detailed by his sons Jase and Willie Robertson in 2024 and 2025.

In 2024, Robertson's family announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. His son, Jase Robertson, shared insights into his father's condition on the Unashamed podcast, noting that Phil experienced significant pain even during simple activities like walking and impairment in his ability to converse.

Despite these challenges, Phil maintained a sense of humor, acknowledging his memory issues with a candid remark: "Tell me about it."

Apart from Alzheimer’s, Robertson reportedly battled an unnamed blood disorder for years, which had worsened, causing his body to produce excessive blood, thickening it and potentially triggering mini-strokes, as per Willie.



How did Robertson die?

Although Robertson's passing comes after his battle with Alzheimer’s and other health issues, no official cause of death has been pronounced yet.

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and thinking skills. It's the most common type of dementia in older adults.

It is a progressive disease that destroys important mental functions. In this disease, brain cell connections and the cells themselves degenerate and die, eventually destroying memory and other important mental functions. The main symptoms of Alzheimer’s are memory loss and confusion. Although there’s no proper cure for Alzheimer’s, prevention is possible with proper diagnosis and treatment.


The Robertson family tribute:

The news of Phil Robertson's passing was shared by his daughter-in-law, Korie Robertson, on Facebook. In her heartfelt message, Korie expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers from fans and well-wishers.


Korie revealed, "We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord. He reminded us often of the words of Paul, ‘you do not grieve like those who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."

“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,” she mentioned.

Korie added, “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. 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."