Iconic TV host Phil Donahue took his last breath on August 18, 2024, in Manhattan, at the age of 88, after a long series of health issues.
Key Takeaways
- Phil’s family announced his passing on August 19, 2024.
- He launched “The Phil Donahue Show” in 1967, focusing on controversial and significant issues.
- He was married twice and was a father to five kids.
In a statement that was first revealed by the Today show on Monday, August 19, Donahue’s family said,
Groundbreaking TV talk show journalist Phil Donahue died Sunday night at home surrounded by his wife of 44 years Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, grandchildren and his beloved golden retriever Charlie.
Today Show
In place of flowers, Donahue’s family requested that contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund.
Although more details about his cause of passing were not disclosed, it is unclear if Donahue’s illness was related to Alzheimer’s.
After his passing, tributes began to pour in. Piers Morgan, the broadcaster, posted a tribute on Twitter, stating,
RIP Phil Donahue, 88. One of the true trail-blazing icons of American television. He hosted over 6,000 talk shows and was the first to interact with a studio audience. Interviewing him for CNN a few years ago lived up to every expectation.. such a clever, interesting man.
Piers Morgan
Furthermore, Katie Couric, a renowned journalist and presenter, wrote,
So sad to hear this news. Legendary talk show host Phil Donahue died on Sunday night following a long illness. He was 88 years old.
Phil Donahue: A Legendary Talk Show Host’s Journey
Phil Donahue, an Emmy-winning talk show host, was born in Cleveland on December 21, 1935, and began his career in 1957 at KYW radio and TV.
In 1967, he began “The Phil Donahue Show” in Dayton, Ohio, which focused on topics such as Catholic Church abuse, the KKK, and feminism.
He renamed the show “Donahue” in 1974 after moving it to Chicago. It later moved to New York City in January 1985.
Furthermore, he made frequent appearances on TODAY from 1979 to 1988.
In March 1990, Donahue interviewed Nelson Mandela via satellite from Lusaka. The show also featured the April 1992 debate between Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown Jr.
In September 1996, “The Phil Donahue Show” came to an end after 29 years.
With 20 Emmy Awards to his name (10 for hosting and 10 for the show), he paved the way for daytime stars such as Oprah Winfrey and Montel Williams.
In the September 2002 issue of O, the Oprah Magazine, American host and TV producer Winfrey wrote,
If there had been no Phil Donahue show, there would be no Oprah Winfrey Show.
Oprah Winfrey
After a six-year break in 1990, its namesake returned to primetime TV in 2002 to host Donahue, an interview-based show. However, MSNBC canceled the program in February 2003 due to low ratings.
He later wrote, co-directed, and produced the 2007 documentary “Body of War,” which focuses on Iraq War veteran Tomas Young.
On May 24, 2024, President Joe Biden awarded Donahue and 18 other individuals the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Phil Donahue’s Two Marriages and Children
Phil Donahue had two marriages. His first marriage was to Margaret Cooney in 1958, and they divorced in 1975.
He married his second wife, Marlo Thomas, on May 21, 1980, after meeting her in 1977 when she appeared as a guest on his talk show.
On May 8, 2015, Thomas posted on Facebook with the caption,
Phil and I met on his talk show, “Donahue,” in 1977 — it was instant chemistry. He flirted, I giggled, and his TV audience watched us fall in love.
Marlo Thomas
Marlo Thomas, Phil’s wife, is an American actress and activist known for That Girl and Free to Be… You and Me.
Donahue is survived by Thomas and his four children namely Kevin, Daniel, and Mary Rose, from his first marriage.
Phil was predeceased by his son, James “Jim” Patrick, who died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm in 2014 at the age of 51.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Phil Donahue was regarded as one of the most influential talk show hosts and has been dubbed the “king of daytime talk.”
- In 1996, Donahue was listed as #42 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
- His father, Phillip, worked as a furniture sales clerk, while his mother, Catherine (née McClory), was a department store shoe clerk.
