Phil Donahue, the longtime host of “The Phil Donahue Show,” has died … his household confirmed.
The media character’s dying was introduced on “The Today Show” early Monday morning, the place an announcement was shared from Donahue’s family members — together with spouse of over 40 years, Marlo Thomas — who had been by his facet when he handed away Sunday night following an extended sickness. No additional particulars had been shared into his reason for dying.
NBC
Donahue, who hosted his eponymous speak present for 29 years, was referred to as a trailblazing TV journalist … as he pioneered the daytime TV format we now know.
PH was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the place he spent his early life earlier than attending school on the College of Notre Dame in Indiana.
Phil began out his profession in radio within the late ’50s, earlier than pivoting his focus to tv … the place he interviewed plenty of influential individuals, together with President John F. Kennedy, Johnny Carson, Malcom X, amongst others.
In 1967, he based “The Phil Donahue Show” … which was later rebranded to “Donahue” in 1974 after Phil moved the present to Chicago and a brand new station. The present was notably the primary of its sort to incorporate viewers participation.
The final time we noticed Phil was in 2014 … when he reminded TMZ of his Cleveland roots — as he stated he’d fairly see the Cleveland Cavaliers within the NBA Finals than make a cease on the Republican Nationwide Conference.
AUGUST 2014
TMZ.com
He was honored for his storied profession earlier this yr … as he acquired the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden again in Could.
He was pre-deceased by his youngest son, James Donahue, who died at 51 in 2014 following an aortic aneurysm.
Phil is survived by his aforementioned spouse, kids, grandchildren, and beloved golden retriever Charlie.
He was 88.
RIP
