Phil Robertson, one of the stars of Duck Dynasty, has died.
His daughter-in-law, Korie Robertson, who is married to Phil’s son Willie, posted the news on Facebook on Sunday.
“We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,” she wrote. “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.
“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.”
The post was signed “The Robertson Family.”
Details about the cause of death were not shared, but his family previously revealed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and also was suffering from a blood disease.
Duck Dynasty became a huge hit when it premiered on A&E in 2012, running for 11 seasons. The reality show, which aired until 2017, followed the Louisiana-based Robertson family. Phil founded Duck Commander, a company that made duck calls and other products.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson, a hunting industry pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson family,” A&E said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and respect their privacy as they grieve.”
The show was drawing nearly 12 million viewers during its peak, becoming the most-watched nonfiction series in cable history, according to A&E.
Korie and Willie are set to appear in a new reality series, Duck Dynasty: The Revival, debuting Wednesday on A&E.