Born in New York to an Italian mother and an Italian-American father, Bongiorno moved to Italy when still a child and became an institution in the Italian broadcasting scene.
He was one of the first high profile presenters to defect from Rai to privately-owned Canale 5 and continued to present programmes well into old age.
Among his best known programmes were Lascia o raddoppia.
Many will remember him for his trademark Allegria! at the start of his shows.
Mr Bongiorno died suddenly of a heart attack in Monte Carlo.
from: timesofmalta