Italian television icon Pippo Baudo passed away at the age of 89 on Saturday evening in Rome. The announcement was made by his lawyer and close friend, Giorgio Assumma, who confirmed that Baudo’s death was the result of a heart attack.

Born Giuseppe “Pippo” Baudo in Militello in Val di Catania on June 7, 1936, he enjoyed a 60-year-long, successful career. In July 2021, Italian President Sergio Mattarella rewarded Baudo with the honor of the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic at the Quirinal Palace in Rome for his services to the entertainment industry.