Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers have paid tribute to Regis Philbin following his death

Jimmy said: "He could do everything. He could sing. He was funny - he was really funny. He was an entertainer.

"He always was game to do a bit or dress up. He would do anything for a laugh. I loved him. My grandparents loved him. They introduced me. My mom and dad loved him."

He 'Tonight Show' host revealed how much he looked him to Regis early in his own television career.

He added: "When I started to become famous on 'Saturday Night Live' and people would ask, 'What's it like when people recognise you on the street?'

"I would be like, 'I feel like Regis'. And everyone understood that. There was no need for explanation because he was the king of New York."

The 45-year-old star recalled their time together on each other's programmes.

He said: "We got to know each other pretty well. He'll be remembered as a genuinely nice person, a funny human, a good husband, father and grandfather.

"And he always had that smile. And when Irish eyes are smiling, well, they'll steal your heart away. Regis, we'll miss you."

His contemporary Seth Meyers, 46, also offered some kind words during Monday's episode of 'Late Night'.

He commented: "Regis Philbin passed away this weekend--as great a TV host as we're ever likely to see.

"I was lucky enough to meet Regis a few times, and it was a delight how he was exactly the same in person as he was on television.

"The most amazing thing about Regis wasn't his contagious enthusiasm. It was how many years he maintained that contagious enthusiasm."