Iconic talk show presenter, a groundbreaker in the business, passes away aged 88 – “His show broke records.”
Phil Donahue, known as the “king of daytime chat” in the United States, died at the age of 88 on August 18 in his Manhattan home.
His family confirmed the news to Today, adding that the talk show presenter passed away after a protracted illness. His loved ones surrounded him in his final hours, including his wife of 44 years, actress Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children Michael, Daniel, Kevin, and Mary Rose, his grandchildren, plus his beloved golden retriever, Charlie.
The specific cause of death is unknown.
For nearly three decades, Donahue presented The Phil Donahue Show, later renamed Donahue, where he interviewed celebrities, politicians, and many of his time’s great individuals, including Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, and Dolly Parton.
Throughout his career, he hosted nearly 6,000 episodes and frequently addressed sensitive social problems, allowing the audience to participate in the conversations and pioneering a new model for daytime talk programs.
Since the late 1960s, Donahue has been a well-known feminist and advocate for women’s rights.
He was born in Cleveland in 1935 and began his media career in the late 1950s, working primarily in talk radio and television. He started his own talk program in 1967.
In 1974, the show relocated from Ohio to Chicago, where it became known simply as Donahue.
His wife took to Instagram to thank her fans for “the amazing messages of love and support that have been flooding in all day, and for the great and generous way that you have allowed Phil and me to share our life adventure with you over the years.”
She stated that she will be taking a break from her page to rest and care for herself after the death of her husband.
Celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, paid tribute to the man who paved the path for other talk show presenters.
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“There would not have been an Oprah Show without Phil Donahue, who was the first to prove that daytime talk and women watching should be treated seriously,” Winfrey wrote alongside a black and white portrait of herself with the late presenter. “He was a pioneer.” I am delighted I could thank him for that. Rest in peace, Phil.
Our thoughts and condolences are with Phil Donahue’s family.
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