Renowned television talk show host, Phil Donahue, has passed away at the age of 88. His family confirmed his death on Monday, stating that he died peacefully at home on Sunday night after a prolonged illness. He was surrounded by his family, including his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, his sister, children, grandchildren, and his cherished golden retriever, Charlie.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund. Donahue, a legendary figure in the television industry, was recognized for his contributions just three months prior to his death when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden.
Born on December 21, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, Donahue began his career in television and radio in the 1950s. His groundbreaking talk show, “The Phil Donahue Show,” premiered in 1967 in Dayton, Ohio. The show, which moved to New York City in 1985, was known for its audience participation and its tackling of serious issues such as abuse in the Catholic Church, the Ku Klux Klan, and feminism.
Throughout his career, Donahue interviewed a host of notable guests, including Nelson Mandela following his release from prison in 1990, making Donahue the first person to do so. He was also the first American talk show host to tape from the Soviet Union. His show hosted the 1992 presidential primary debate between Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown. After 29 years on air, “The Phil Donahue Show” ended in September 1996.
Donahue’s contributions to television earned him 20 Emmy Awards, 10 for outstanding host and 10 for the talk show itself. In a 2001 interview, he reflected on the movements that shaped his career and the era in which he worked, including the feminist, consumer, gay rights, antiwar, and environmental movements.
After a brief return to television in 2002 with an MSNBC talk show, Donahue co-directed and produced the 2007 documentary film “Body of War,” about Iraq War veteran Tomas Young.
Donahue was first married to Margaret Cooney from 1958 to 1975, with whom he had five children: Michael, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose, and James. In 1980, he married Thomas, who is best known for her role in the 1960s sitcom “That Girl” and as Jennifer Aniston’s mother, Sandra Green, in “Friends.” The couple spoke about their marriage in a recent interview with People, reflecting on the lessons they learned during the pandemic and their desire to slow down.