Phil Donahue, Renowned Talk Show Host and Marlo Thomas’ Husband, Dies at Age 88
A TV legend has passed away.
Phil Donahue, a well-known TV host and the spouse of Marlo Thomas, has died at the age of 88, as confirmed by his family to NBC News.
“Groundbreaking TV talk show journalist Phil Donahue passed away on Sunday night at his home, surrounded by his wife of 44 years Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, grandchildren, and his beloved golden retriever Charlie,” his family stated. “Donahue, 88, peacefully succumbed to a long illness.”
Donahue began his career in the late ‘60s with The Phil Donahue Show, later changed to Donahue, which was the first to introduce the concept of studio audience participation on TV shows. The show aired until 1996 and earned Donahue a total of 20 Emmy Awards.
Aside from his talk show, Donahue also made numerous appearances on popular TV series such as Blossom, The Bold & the Beautiful, Who’s the Boss?, Ellen, and Frasier, often portraying a fictionalized version of himself.