Phil Donahue, the pioneering host of The Phil Donahue Show and a trailblazer in daytime television, passed away on Sunday, August 18, at the age of 88. Donahue’s family confirmed his death, noting that he died peacefully at home after a long illness. He was surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 44 years, actress Marlo Thomas, his sister, children, grandchildren, and their beloved golden retriever, Charlie.
Donahue’s 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.
Born on December 21, 1935, in Cleveland, Donahue began his media career in the late 1950s with talk radio and television. He launched his eponymous talk show in 1967 in Dayton, Ohio. Known for tackling controversial topics and innovating the talk show format, Donahue gained acclaim for his approach, including a notable weeklong series from the Ohio state penitentiary in 1971.
In 1974, Donahue moved the show to Chicago and rebranded it as Donahue. The show thrived, becoming renowned for its live studio audience interactions and tackling important social issues. In January 1985, the show relocated to New York City, where it continued to break new ground by interviewing politicians, activists, musicians, and celebrities.
Donahue’s groundbreaking work included broadcasting five episodes from the Soviet Union in January 1987 and interviewing Nelson Mandela via satellite in March 1990. He also facilitated a key televised debate between Democratic presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown Jr. in April 1992.
Over his career, Donahue interviewed a host of notable guests, including Sammy Davis Jr., Elton John, Gloria Steinem, and Muhammad Ali. He won 20 Emmy Awards and paved the way for other daytime talk show hosts, including Oprah Winfrey, who acknowledged Donahue’s influence in a 2002 issue of O, the Oprah Magazine.
After The Phil Donahue Show ended in 1996, Donahue briefly returned to television with a new show in 2002. Despite its cancellation in 2003, he continued to make an impact through his 2007 documentary Body of War.
Donahue married Marlo Thomas in 1980 after they first met in 1977. The couple co-authored the book What Makes a Marriage Last in 2020. Thomas previously revealed in May 2023 that their marriage was built on love, listening, and passion.
In May 2024, Donahue received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden, an honor that recognized his significant contributions to media and public discourse.
Phil Donahue is survived by his wife Marlo Thomas and four children from his first marriage: Michael, Kevin, Daniel, and Mary Rose. He was predeceased by his son, James “Jim” Patrick, who died in 2014 at the age of 51.