Phil Donahue, legendary talk show host, dead at 88

Phil Donahue, the iconic daytime talk show host, has passed away at the age of 88.

Donahue died peacefully at his home on Sunday, August 18, after a long illness. He was surrounded by his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, along with his sister, children, grandchildren, and his beloved golden retriever, Charlie, according to a statement shared with *Today*.

Born in 1935, Phil Donahue started his media career in the late 1950s. After working as a local reporter in his home state of Ohio, Donahue launched his self-titled talk show. The show first aired on a local CBS affiliate before moving to a local NBC affiliate in Dayton, Ohio, in 1967. Three years later, it was picked up for national syndication, reaching audiences across the country.

Phil Donahue‘s talk show was renowned for tackling controversial subjects, ranging from child abuse in the Catholic Church to interviews with the former grand wizard of the KKK.

Originally titled *The Phil Donahue Show* and later shortened to *Donahue*, the program set the standard for future daytime talk shows. It was groundbreaking in allowing audience members to directly question the guests.

Recalling this innovation, Donahue shared in an interview with WGN, “One day, I just went out in the audience, and it’s clear there would be no *Donahue* show if I hadn’t somehow accidentally brought in the audience.”

In addition to paving the way for other daytime hosts like Oprah Winfrey and Sally Jesse Raphael, Phil Donahue won 20 Emmy Awards. Most recently, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden.

In lieu of flowers, Donahue’s family has requested that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund.

Phil Donahue, you will be deeply missed. Thank you for your remarkable contributions to daytime television. May you rest in peace.