Phil Donahue, the legendary TV talk  show host, has passed away at 88

                        Phil Donahue

Donahue passed away on Sunday night after battling a prolonged illness, his family announced in a statement.

Longtime TV talk show host Phil Donahue passed away on Sunday night at the age of 88, following a lengthy illness, his family announced. He died at home, surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 44 years, actress Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, his grandchildren, and his cherished golden retriever, Charlie.

His family did not disclose any further details regarding the cause of death.

Phil Donahue was born in Cleveland in 1935 and began his journalism career in radio during the 1950s.

He married his first wife, Margaret Mary Cooney, in 1958, and they had five children before divorcing in 1975.

Donahue started hosting "The Phil Donahue Show" in 1967 in Ohio with a live studio audience. The show was syndicated a few years later, moved to Chicago, and finally settled in New York City in 1985. The final episode, renamed “Donahue,” aired in 1996 after a successful 29-year run.

He met Marlo Thomas while filming an episode of his show in 1977, and they described it as “love at first sight.” They married in 1980.

Beyond his own show, Donahue frequently appeared on TODAY from 1979 to 1988. Thomas, an Emmy-winning actress and national outreach director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, also made several appearances on TODAY.

In 2022, she updated viewers on Donahue’s condition on the 3rd hour of TODAY, sharing a lighthearted moment. "He loves to watch talk shows and scream at the set: 'That's not the question!'" she said, eliciting laughter from the hosts.

Phil Donahue

Donahue made a brief return to television in 2002 with a show called "Donahue" on MSNBC, which was canceled a few months later.

In May, President Joe Biden awarded Donahue, along with 18 others, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This prestigious honor is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other notable societal or private endeavors, as stated by the White House.

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.

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