Phil Robertson, the bearded founder of Duck Commander and spiritual backbone of the Duck Dynasty family, has died at the age of 79 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The news was confirmed Sunday by his daughter-in-law, Korie Robertson, who posted a tribute on Facebook celebrating the life of a man whose influence reached millions.

“We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,” she wrote. “Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, by his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus.”

Robertson had been in declining health in recent months. His son Jase had told fans last month that his father was “not good,” prompting an outpouring of support from longtime fans of the hit A&E reality series. The family plans a private service for now, with details about a public celebration to come.

Premiering in 2012, Duck Dynasty became an overnight cultural phenomenon, with America embracing the down-home values, faith, and humor of the Louisiana-based Robertson clan. At its peak, the show drew over 11 million viewers and became the most-watched nonfiction cable series in history by 2013.

Phil—always clad in camouflage, with his trademark long gray beard—stood out not just for his rugged charm but for his rock-solid commitment to Biblical principles. He and his wife Kay, along with sons Willie, Jase, and Jep, and extended family like Uncle Si, became symbols of traditional values in an era of cultural upheaval.

Though Duck Dynasty ended its A&E run in 2017, Phil remained active in conservative circles. He was a frequent guest on Breitbart News Daily and became a fierce advocate for free speech and religious liberty. His comments defending Biblical marriage and Christian morality famously led to clashes with A&E executives during the show’s peak, but Robertson refused to apologize for his convictions.

In 2015, Phil was honored with the Andrew Breitbart Defender of the First Amendment Award at CPAC for his boldness in standing up for faith and free expression in the face of corporate and media backlash.

A staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, Robertson publicly praised Trump’s unapologetic leadership and efforts to protect religious freedom. He called the former president a man who “loved God and country” and saw Trump’s rise as a rejection of cultural decay.

Despite the political firestorms he endured, Robertson’s true legacy will always be his message of redemption. After living a wild life in his early years, Robertson turned to Christianity, turned his life around, and dedicated his later years to spreading the Gospel.

His story was chronicled in his best-selling memoir, Happy, Happy, Happy, and he often told audiences that no matter how far a person had strayed, God’s grace could restore them. It was that testimony that made him more than just a reality TV star—it made him a spiritual father figure to many across the country.

Phil Robertson’s death comes just ahead of the debut of Duck Dynasty: The Revival, a new show featuring his son Willie and daughter-in-law Korie, slated to premiere in June. The show’s return will now take on a new meaning—serving not only as a continuation of the Robertson family’s story but also as a tribute to the man who started it all.

In his final years, Robertson often said he wasn’t afraid to die because he knew where he was going. “I am just a mortal man,” he once said. “But I know my destination.”

That certainty—of faith, of purpose, of eternal life—was what made Phil Robertson such a rare and powerful voice in modern America.

He will be missed. But the legacy he built lives on.