Phil Donahue, a pioneer in the world of daytime talk shows who transformed the genre for nearly three decades, has passed away at the age of 88. His family shared the news on the Today show, revealing that Donahue died peacefully on Sunday night after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, actress Marlo Thomas, along with four children from his first marriage. Donahue and Thomas met in 1980 when she appeared as a guest on his show.
Born in Cleveland on December 21st, 1935, Phil Donahue began his career with various jobs in radio and news. In 1963, he launched a radio call-in talk show, setting the foundation for what would become one of the most influential programs in television history. On November 7th, 1967, Donahue brought a TV version of his radio show to WLWD in Dayton, Ohio, marking the beginning of his iconic run. By 1969, the show was nationally syndicated, and in 1974, he moved it to Chicago before finally relocating to New York City in 1980.
Donahue’s show became famous for addressing controversial and groundbreaking topics, engaging audiences in ways that had never been seen before. His signature style included taking his microphone into the studio audience, inviting spontaneous and authentic participation from viewers. At its peak, The Phil Donahue Show captivated nine million daily viewers.
Donahue dominated daytime television until Oprah Winfrey surpassed him in 1987. After a successful career hosting over 6,000 episodes across 29 years, he retired in 1996 at the age of 60. Over the course of his career, he earned 11 Daytime Emmy Awards and, just this past May, was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Phil Donahue’s influence on talk shows and television as a whole remains unmatched, and his legacy continues to shape the industry today.