Phil Donahue, a pioneering TV host known for revolutionizing talk shows with his interactive approach and engaging with studio audiences, passed away on Sunday at the age of 88, according to his family.
His innovative contributions significantly shaped the format of American talk television.
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. His family said he’d been suffering from a “long illness.”
“Groundbreaking TV talk show journalist Phil Donahue died Sunday night at home surrounded by his wife of 44 years Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, grandchildren and his beloved golden retriever Charlie,” his family said in a statement.
“Donahue was 88 years old and passed away peacefully following a long illness.”
She expressed her desire to leave with gratitude for the support she received, acknowledging the “wonderful and generous way” people allowed her and Phil to share their life journey with them over the years.
“As a man who spent his career loving his audiences, Phil got such a kick out of our cozy little community here, and I know he would be very touched by the heartwarming thoughts and memories you’ve been sharing,” Thomas wrote.
The post featured a photo of her and Donahue on a motorized scooter, which she described as one of her favorite vacation memories.
In her message, she wished her followers well and expressed hope that they hold their loved ones close, as she was blessed to do with her beloved Phillip.
At its peak, Phil Donahue’s nationally syndicated “The Phil Donahue Show,” later simply “Donahue,” was a major ratings success and paved the way for similar talk shows hosted by Montel Williams and Jerry Springer.
Oprah Winfrey hailed Donahue as a trailblazer who “invented smart talk” in the afternoon and introduced groundbreaking ideas into the lives of American women.
“His show debuted nationally, and the whole country came to know his personal brand of issue-driven straight talk,” Winfrey said in 2002.
“If there had been no Phil Donahue show, there would be no ‘Oprah Winfrey’ show. He was the first to acknowledge that women are interested in more than mascara tips and cake recipes — that we’re intelligent, we’re concerned about the world around us, and we want the best possible lives for ourselves.”
Donahue contributed to NBC’s “TODAY” show from 1979 to 1988 and returned to television in 2002 as a prime-time host on MSNBC, though his show was canceled after less than a year.
Apart from his notable interviews and discussions on controversial issues like war and abortion, Donahue was a self-described feminist and advocate for women’s rights, influenced by his observations of how women were treated in the workplace decades ago.
The White House described Phil Donahue as a “television pioneer,” noting that his daytime chat show became “one of the most influential” programs of its time.
