Phil Donahue, the legendary talk show host, died at 88

Television icon Phil Donahue, creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show, died Sunday at 88. The show, which revolutionized daytime talk, earned him the title “King of Daytime.”

Renowned talk show pioneer Phil Donahue passed away peacefully at home on Sunday. He was surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 44 years, actress Marlo Thomas, as well as his sister, children, grandchildren, and beloved pet.

The statement said he passed away peacefully after a long illness. In lieu of flowers, Donahue’s family kindly requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund.

Phil Donahue Bio :

Born in Cleveland on December 21, 1935, Phil Donahue embarked on his media career in the late 1950s, working in both talk radio and television. He launched his self-titled talk show in Dayton, Ohio, in 1967. Renowned for tackling controversial subjects head-on, Donahue gained widespread acclaim and credibility. His groundbreaking 1971 series, which took viewers inside the Ohio State Penitentiary for a week, solidified his reputation as a fearless journalist.

The Phil Donahue Show broke new ground with its hour-long format dedicated to single, in-depth discussions on critical issues like child abuse in the Catholic Church, feminism, and race relations. As a pioneer, the show also revolutionized daytime television by allowing studio audiences to directly question guests. Relocating to Chicago in 1974 and rebranded as simply “Donahue,” the program solidified its impact by pioneering a new era of talk show engagement.

According to Ron Weiner, the former director of the Phil Donahue Show, the program’s breakthrough moment came when it moved to Chicago. He believes the city’s studio audience was the key ingredient that propelled the show to new heights.

Donahue reflected, ‘One day, I simply stepped into the audience, and it became clear that the Donahue show wouldn’t exist without this accidental inclusion of viewers.’ The show’s groundbreaking format, which invited audience participation, ultimately defined its success. In January 1985, Donahue moved the production to New York City, where he continued to push the boundaries of daytime television with in-depth interviews of politicians, activists, and celebrities.

Donahue also revealed that he was a trailblazer, becoming the first talk show host to film five episodes in the Soviet Union in January 1987. He continued to break new ground in March 1990 by conducting the first-ever televised interview with Nelson Mandela via satellite from Zambia. Additionally, Donahue hosted a groundbreaking, commercial-free presidential debate between Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown in April 1992, a format unlike any seen before.

Donahue amassed an impressive 20 Emmy Awards—ten for his hosting and ten for the show itself—establishing him as a trailblazer in daytime television. His groundbreaking format influenced countless successors, including Geraldo Rivera, Sally Jesse Raphael, Ricki Lake, Montel Williams, and Oprah Winfrey, whose own show, like Donahue’s, originated in Chicago.

The talk show remained in New York City for its entire 29-year run, finally ending in September 1996. After a six-year absence from television, the host returned with a new interview program, “Donahue,” in 2002. However, low ratings led to the show’s cancellation by MSNBC in February 2003. Following this, the host transitioned to filmmaking, writing, co-directing, and producing the 2007 documentary “Body of War.

In May 2024, Donahue was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by PresidentJoe Biden, alongside Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky and Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh.

Donahue is survived by Thomas and four children — Michael, Kevin, Daniel and Mary Rose — from his first marriage. He is predeceased by son James “Jim” Patrick, who died in 2014 of an aortic aneurysm at the age of 51.

Phil Donahue Net worth :

Phil Donahue net worth estimated at $150 million.

Phil Donahue Wife :

Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas wed in 1980 after their initial meeting in 1977 on his talk show. Thomas later described it as “instant chemistry” in a nostalgic Facebook post. The couple collaborated on the 2020 book “What Makes a Marriage Last,” sharing insights from other long-lasting relationships. In a 2023 interview, Thomas attributed the success of her marriage to Donahue to “love, listening, and lust.