Introduction
Duck Dynasty Patriarch Phil Robertson Died On May 25, 2025
Willie Robertson couldn’t help but get emotional when he mentioned his late father, Phil, during a recent speaking engagement.
Duck Dynasty star and family patriarch Phil Robertson died on May 25, 2025, at the age of 79. The man known as “The Duck Commander” battled some serious health issues in the last months of his life, including Alzheimer’s disease and a blood disorder.
Phil was known for his devotion to his faith, his passion for duck hunting, and his love for his family.
Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson delivers a sermon in 2014
Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” fame died on May 25, 2025. (Photo Credit: Suzanne Cordeiro / Corbis via Getty Images)
After Phil died, Willie remembered him in a touching tribute on social media. The first thing he mentioned in his tribute was Phil’s “many prayers” and how he’ll always remember them.
“He taught me many things in life and most without ever saying a word,” Willie said. “I watched him, and knew he had figured out so many things. Most importantly, he taught me the value of sharing my faith with others. He was the Real Deal, the same on Sundays as Fridays. Most of our conversations were not about hunting or business, but about sharing the Gospel.”
Willie shared that the last words Phil ever said to him were “You’re my brother.” That made sense to Willie, because his dad always told him they “were coworkers in the Kingdom of God.”
Willie ended his tribute by sharing his love for his father:
“Thank you for raising me the right way and teaching me the most important lesson to prepare me for the day you passed on,” he wrote. “Not sure how people deal with loss without the Lord. We may be wrong about all this….but I doubt it! Sleep well Dad, can’t wait to see you.”
See Willie’s tribute to his dad below.
Willie Robertson Struggles To Maintain Composure While Talking About His Dad
Of course, Willie Robertson is still deeply mourning the loss of his father, Phil. That was made clear during one of his recent speaking engagements.
A video shared on TikTok shows Willie getting choked up after mentioning Phil. With tears in his eyes, he said, “My dad told me right before he passed, he goes, ‘Will, it goes by like that. We’re here, and we’re gone.’“
Willie encouraged the audience, “Don’t waste your life outside of God’s plan.” He added, “We just put my dad in the ground, believe me, let me tell you what’s really important in life and what ain’t.”
Willie said so many people have approached his family, telling them how Phil changed their lives because he spoke about Jesus. “Not about duck hunting, not about business, not about reality TV shows…“
The clip of his speech ends after he shared the words from Galatians 6:9, which are:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Watch Willie’s emotional speech about his dad in the video below. You may want to grab a few tissues before you press “play.”