Phil Donahue has died at the age of 88.
The legendary TV star, who created and hosted the “Phil Donahue Show” for nearly three decades, died on Sunday (18.08.24) after a long illness.
In a statement issued to TODAY, it was announced that Donahue died at his home surrounded by his family, including his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, and their children and grandchildren.
The family has asked fans to make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund instead of flowers.
Donahue began his media career in the 1950s, working for local radio and television stations in Cleveland.
In the 1960s, he began hosting a telephone talk show of the same name in Dayton, Ohio.
During this time, Donahue interviewed some of the most prominent public figures of the time, including former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, late-night host Johnny Carson, and Malcolm X, the human rights activist who played a prominent role during the civil rights movement.
Then, in November 1967, Donahue launched “The Phil Donahue Show.”
The cult talk show ran for 29 years and was even an international success, as it was also broadcast in Great Britain and Australia.
The show often focused on issues that divided liberals and conservatives in the United States, such as civil rights and abortion.
However, by the mid-1990s, ratings began to drop sharply due to increasing competition, and the last episode of “The Phil Donahue Show” aired on September 13, 1996.
Nevertheless, Donahue still enjoys great respect in the television industry and numerous stars have previously highlighted his influence on their careers.
Oprah Winfrey, for example, admitted that Donahue was a great source of inspiration for her.
She once said, “If there had been no ‘Phil Donahue Show,’ there would be no ‘Oprah Winfrey Show.'”