Phil Donahue, a pioneering television host celebrated for his innovative approach to talk shows, passed away on Sunday at the age of 88, according to his family. The specific cause of death has not been revealed, but it was stated that he had been dealing with a long illness.
In a statement, his family mentioned that Donahue died peacefully at home, surrounded by his wife Marlo Thomas, family members, and his golden retriever, Charlie.
Donahue gained national prominence with “The Phil Donahue Show,” later simplified to “Donahue,” which became a major success and inspired similar programs hosted by Montel Williams and Jerry Springer. Oprah Winfrey praised him as a trailblazer for introducing thought-provoking discussions into American homes, emphasizing that his show showed that women were interested in more than just traditional topics.
His unique format of audience participation began accidentally in 1967 while filming in Dayton, Ohio. When the scheduled variety show was canceled, Donahue allowed the audience to participate in his interview with an atheist activist, leading to a format that has since become a standard in television.
Donahue contributed to NBC’s “TODAY” from 1979 to 1988 and briefly returned to television as a prime-time host on MSNBC in 2002, although that show was canceled after a short run. Beyond entertainment, Donahue was a vocal advocate for women’s rights, reflecting on past workplace inequalities women faced.
In 1993, he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, and earlier this year, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden, who hailed him as a television pioneer.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund, in honor of his wife and her father’s longstanding association with the hospital. Donahue married Thomas in 1980, and she is renowned for her role in the influential sitcom “That Girl,” which focused on a single woman’s career aspirations.