Phil Donahue, a celebrated television talk show host, has died at the age of 88. His family confirmed his passing on Monday, revealing that he died peacefully at his home on Sunday night following a long illness. He was surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, his sister, children, grandchildren, and his beloved golden retriever, Charlie.
The family has asked that instead of flowers, contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund. Donahue, a titan in the television industry, was honored for his work just three months before his death when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden.
Born on December 21, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, Donahue embarked on his television and radio career in the 1950s. His pioneering talk show, “The Phil Donahue Show,” debuted in 1967 in Dayton, Ohio. The show, which relocated to New York City in 1985, was renowned for its audience engagement and its focus on serious topics such as abuse in the Catholic Church, the Ku Klux Klan, and feminism.
Throughout his illustrious career, Donahue interviewed a plethora 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” concluded in September 1996.
Donahue’s significant 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.