Famed Show Host Dead

(TheRedAlertNews.com) – In a new passing of a famed TV personality, Phil Donahue, the iconic talk show host, has died at the age of 88.

His death occurred on Sunday evening after a protracted illness, as confirmed by his family to “Today” on Monday morning, The New York Post reports.

Donahue died peacefully at his residence, surrounded by family members, including his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, his sister, his offspring, grandchildren, and his cherished golden retriever, Charlie.

The family issued a statement requesting that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund.

The revered former anchor of “The Phil Donahue Show” became visibly moved during a distinguished ceremony at the White House on May 3.

Marlo Thomas, who herself received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2014, supported her husband throughout the event.

Born on December 21, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, Donahue embarked on his career in television and radio during the 1950s.

In 1967, he launched his namesake talk show in Dayton, Ohio. This hour-long program engaged its audience and addressed grave topics such as maltreatment within the Catholic Church, the Ku Klux Klan, and feminism.

In 1985, the program was relocated from Dayton to New York City, where it was broadcast from 30 Rockefeller Plaza. During this time, Donahue hosted numerous prominent guests, including Muhammad Ali, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Donahue achieved the milestone of being the first to interview Nelson Mandela following his release from prison in 1990 and was the pioneer American talk show host to record episodes in the Soviet Union.

His show also facilitated the 1992 presidential primary debate between Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown.

“The Phil Donahue Show” concluded in September 1996 after a remarkable 29-year run. Over his career, Donahue was honored with 20 Emmy Awards, with ten awarded for outstanding host and another ten for the talk show itself, acknowledging his transformative impact on television broadcasting.

“We grew up with the feminist movement, the consumer movement, the gay rights movement, we grew up with the antiwar movement, with the environmental movement,” Donahue remarked in a 2001 interview.

In 2002, Donahue made a brief return to television, hosting an MSNBC talk show titled “Donahue,” which was discontinued in 2003.

Donahue was initially married to Margaret Cooney from 1958 until their divorce in 1975; together, they had five children: Michael, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose, and James.

He later married Marlo Thomas in 1980, who gained fame starring in the 1960s sitcom “That Girl” and later portrayed Jennifer Aniston’s mother, Sandra Green, in “Friends.”