Popular American media personality and writer Phil Donahue, renowned as the King of Daytime Talk, has died at the age of 88. The news of Donahue’s passing began making rounds on social media before his family confirmed it.
The confirmation came on Monday, August 19, 2024, from the Today show after they had received a statement from his family. Subsequently, Sheinelle Jones added, “You know, we overuse sometimes the word trailblazer, but he certainly was, indeed.”
The Announcement of Phil Donahue’s Death
On Monday, August 19, 2024, Donahue’s family released a statement informing the public that the King of Daytime had died. The statement revealed that Phil Donahue died on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
They added that Donahue died surrounded by his wife, Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, grandchildren, and his beloved golden retriever, Charlie. Although the family did not reveal much about the cause of Phil Donahue’s death, the statement noted that he died peacefully following a long illness.
Additionally, the statement said that instead of flowers, donations should be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund.
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Who replaced Phil Donahue?
The last time a US president hammered home the point of declaring war in the Middle East, MSNBC fired Phil Donahue. In February 2003, a couple of days before the war in Iraq started, MSNBC canceled Donahue’s primetime show, citing low viewership.
However, the reason was met with criticism, as Donahue’s show was the highest-rated program on MSNBC back in 2003. On March 31, 2003, Keith Olbermann took over Donahue’s former slot on MSNBC. Olbermann kept the slot for 8 years before he was fired from the network in 2011.
How did Phil Donahue meet Marlo Thomas?
Phil Donahue met his wife, Marlo Thomas, in 1977 after she appeared as a guest on his talk show. From her appearance on his show, it was evident that Donahue and Marlo Thomas shared chemistry.
Toward the end of the show, Donahue holds Thomas’ hand, telling her she is fascinating. Thomas responded, saying, “You are wonderful! I said it when we were off the air, but I want to say you are loving and generous, and you like women, and it’s a pleasure! Whoever is the woman in your life is very lucky.”
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In 2021, Thomas appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show, where she spoke about the first time she met Donahue. Thomas said, “We just clicked… I just loved his confidence.” Despite living on opposite sides of the nation, they were instantly connected.
While Phil Donahue resided in Winnetka, Illinois, Thomas lived in Los Angeles during their courtship. As they got closer to marriage, they had to choose where to live together.
In 2023, Thomas told The New York Times, “Phil told me, ‘I can’t live in L.A. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life interviewing John Wayne. I can live in New York or Washington. And I told him, ‘Well, I can live in New York or Los Angeles.’ So New York it was.”
How many siblings does Phil Donahue have?
Phil Donahue, whose real name is Phillip John Donahue, was born in Cleveland on December 21, 1935. His mother, Catherine, was a shoe clerk, and his father, Phillip, was a furniture dealer.
Due to his family’s Roman Catholic beliefs, religion played a significant role in his life and eventually became a bad influence. Subsequently, Donahue left the church, describing it as sexist, racist, and unnecessarily damaging in several of his concerts.
According to the press release by the Today show, the former daytime talk show host is survived by his sister, Kathy Taube.
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Did Phil Donahue have children?
From his first marriage to Margaret Cooney, which began in 1958 and ended in 1975, Phil Donahue had five children. Phil Donahue and Margaret Cooney had their children, Michael, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose, and James, during their 17-year marriage.
However, in August 2014, James, Donahue’s youngest son, died at the age of 51 after suffering a ruptured aortic aneurysm. On May 21, 1980, Phil Donahue married actress Marlo Thomas, but they did not have any children together.
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