Phil Donahue, the iconic daytime talk show host, passed away peacefully at 88 on August 18, surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas. Donahue started his media career in the late 1950s and revolutionized talk shows with The Phil Donahue Show, which went national in 1970. His groundbreaking style, which introduced audience interaction and tackled controversial topics, influenced future hosts like Oprah Winfrey.
Throughout his career, Donahue earned 20 Emmy Awards and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In his memory, his family has asked for donations to be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund.
