His family confirmed to TODAY that Donahue died on Sunday night after a prolonged illness, surrounded by loved ones, including his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas.
Donahue, who hosted The Phil Donahue Show from 1967 to 1996, was a trailblazer in the daytime talk show industry.
Renowned as “the king of daytime talk,” he revolutionized the format by introducing audience participation, making his show one of the most influential of its time.
Earlier this year, Donahue was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden. The White House recognized him as a “journalist and television pioneer” who significantly shaped the landscape of daytime television.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1935, Donahue graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1957 with a degree in business administration. He began his broadcasting career in various entry-level roles before rising to prominence at Dayton’s WLWD television station in 1967.
Over his storied career, Donahue earned 20 Emmy Awards and a Peabody in 1980. He tackled a wide range of controversial topics, from feminism and civil rights to consumer protection.
His interviews featured a diverse array of guests, including Muhammad Ali, Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, and Farrah Fawcett. Notably, he interviewed Donald Trump in 1987 to promote The Art of the Deal.
One of the most memorable aspects of his show was a radio-style call-in segment, where Donahue would famously ask: “Is the caller there?”
Phil Donahue in 1970. Credit: Cincinnati Museum Center / Getty
His program also produced several iconic television moments, including interviews with Katharine Hepburn and performances by the controversial rap group 2 Live Crew. Donahue’s influence paved the way for future talk show hosts like Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, and Ellen DeGeneres.
Piers Morgan described him as “one of the true trail-blazing icons of American television,” noting that Donahue hosted over 6,000 talk shows and was the first to engage directly with a studio audience.
Donahue and Marlo Thomas celebrated nearly 40 years of marriage with the release of their book, What Makes Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life, in 2020.
After his long-running show ended, Donahue returned briefly to television in 2002 with a program on MSNBC.
In the 1980s, he also co-hosted an innovative television discussion series with Soviet journalist Vladimir Posner during the Cold War. Additionally, Donahue co-directed the 2006 documentary Body of War, which was nominated for an Oscar.
Donahue is survived by his five children—four sons and a daughter—from a previous marriage. In lieu of flowers, his family has requested donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund, according to NBC.
