Phil Donahue, iconic talk show host, dies aged 88

Phil Donahue, iconic talk show host, dies aged 88

As a film enthusiast who remembers the golden era of television talk shows, I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Phil Donahue. His groundbreaking show was not just a staple of my youth, but it was a beacon of open discussion and inclusivity that paved the way for many subsequent shows.


It’s been confirmed that Phil Donahue, renowned as the host of the pioneering daytime television chat show “The Phil Donahue Show,” passed away at the age of 88.

His death was announced on NBC’s Today show this morning. 

Tonight, Phil Donahue, a pioneering television talk show host, passed away at home. His wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, grandchildren, and their cherished Golden Retriever named Charlie were all with him during his final moments.

It continued: “Donahue was 88 years old and passed away peacefully following a long illness.”

Over the span of nearly three decades, Phil Donahue presided over approximately 6,000 episodes of his groundbreaking talk show, which aired for the first time on a station in Dayton, Ohio on November 7, 1967, and continued its run until it was syndicated nationwide by Multimedia Entertainment on September 13, 1996.

The show drew huge audiences and gained acclaim for tackling important and contemporary topics such as LGBTQ+ issues and race relations.

Among the survivors is his wife of 44 years, actress Marlo Thomas, who he first encountered as a guest on his show and later married in May 1980.

More to follow.

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2024-08-19 17:33