R.I.P. Phil Donahue, pioneer of TV talk and husband of Marlo Thomas

He changed the future of TV talk shows, and met his wife when she first appeared on his show.

The Everett Collection

Phil Donahue, the "king of daytime talk", has passed away.

Donahue's love of broadcasting and journalism started early. By 1960, he got the first big break of his career when he landed a job at WHIO, a radio and TV station in Dayton, Ohio. He landed hard-to-get interviews with Jimmy Hoffa and Billy Sol Estes that were picked up nationally and broadcast on CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.

In 1963, Donahue began hosting a 90-minute radio talk show called Conversation Piece, using then-new technology to allow listeners to call in with questions for his guests, which included figures like Malcolm X, John F. Kennedy, Hugh Hefner, and Martin Luther King Jr., among others. Ratings quadrupled for the show.

In 1967, Donahue brought his show to television with The Phil Donahue Show (later known as Donahue) where he set himself apart from other talk shows by focusing on one guest or issue the whole show, and allowing the audience to ask questions. Donahue said that “I realized during the commercials that these people were asking better questions than I was."

The show would end up running for 29 seasons. In 1996, in an increasingly-saturated talk show market, Donahue chose to retire his show instead of waiting for it to be cancelled. 

Over the course of his career, Donahue was awarded twenty Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, a membership in the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded in 2024.

One of the many celebrities interviewed on The Phil Donahue Show was Marlo Thomas of That Girl. Her first appearance was in 1977, and the two immediately hit it off. Donahue had divorced his wife a few years prior and had five children as a single father. The two married in 1980, and remained married for 44 years until Donahue's death.

The iconic talk show host was 88 years old.

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22 Comments

Runeshaper 3 months ago
R.I.P. Phil Donahue. Thanks for everything (-:
jacko3 3 months ago
It amazing how the time moves on ... and all of us do remember and enjoyed the talk show talents of Phil Donahue =- we pray for his souls, condolences to family and friends and May GOD Bless for Eternity Amen - Alleluia!
jacko3 jacko3 2 months ago
His second wife Marlo - had a cute show in the middle 60's - and we appreciate all cast members .. and of course, the tremendous efforts of her Dad, Danny Thomas and Founding of St. Jude Hospital for Children
Kramden62 3 months ago
If you can’t say anything nice....


Although, Mrs. Donahue, I *am* sorry for your loss. It is indeed very sad when you lose a loved one.
CortneyNicole 3 months ago
Phil Donahue was a great talk show host since I grew up watching with my grandparents. And also I remember watching the other talk shows like Oprah Winfrey, Geraldo Rivera, Sally Jesse Raphael, Ricki Lake and Jenny Jones. Thank you for the wonderful memories of talk show stories MeTV, may him be resting in peace.
tootsieg 3 months ago
Rest In Peace Phil. Loved your show and the other talk shows (Geraldo, Oprah, Montel, Sally Jessy) around at that time.
DocForbin 3 months ago
My older stepbrother and I attended a taping of Donahue in 1989. The subject was "children who refuse to grow up". Towards the end of the episode one of the guests stood up, dropped his pants and revealed his name, address and phone number--which were written on his underpants. Obviously that moment didn't air when the episode was broadcast. After the episode ended we got to shake Donahue's hand. Phil Donahue was indeed a TV pioneer and will be sorely missed. And now "That Girl" is a widow. RIP Phil Donahue and my condolences to Marlo Thomas and their children.
kkvegas DocForbin 3 months ago
What a funny story! I attended a taping in 1985, when the show taped a week of episodes in California. HIs guests were Janet Leigh and Jamie Lee Curtis.
WordsmithWorks 3 months ago
Donahue was about as real as reality TV needed to get.
JHP 3 months ago
gee this is a BIG decision for me

Jerry Springer show

or

Phil Donahue

who was the best? (snicker snicker) and it shows where a level of society has gone
JohnnyBoyohBoy JHP 3 months ago
Totally agree.
Bapa1 3 months ago
RIP. Liked watching him in the 80's. He did a show down here in SoFL and I went. His guest was William Shockley the inventor, who had some pretty strong feelings about race. He made some really racist comments, and in between takes, him, some producer and Donahue were having a pretty animated argument.
Badge714 Bapa1 3 months ago
And here we go ... even on the MeTV site where we all come to escape.
Wiseguy70005 Badge714 3 months ago
Bapa1 was relating what occurred on an episode. Why take offense at that? If you want to escape reality go right ahead.
Jeremy 3 months ago
I did NOT see it coming. I heard about it from Wikipedia.
sagafrat69 3 months ago
Phil was a one of a kind moderator. He helped all of us discuss issues that were important and many times life changing. I'm very sorry to hear of his passing but to be honest I've been missing him since his last "Donahue" show aired. Currently there's not a show on television like his on the air and that is truly sad. Thank you Phil Donahue for " kicking the tires" so to speak and doing your best to help us understand ourselves a little better. If you never got the chance to watch his show you missed out on something really special. It was a one of a kind scull session that many times made you analyze and think about a great many things. Thank you Phil Donahue and R.I.P.
McGillahooala 3 months ago
R.I.P. he is part of TV history.
JHP McGillahooala 3 months ago
Good TV history for me
MrsPhilHarris 3 months ago
I liked his show. Can remember watching it.
Sway 3 months ago
RIP Phil Donahue. Class act, respectful, intelligent talk show host . Set the bar high. Read that he was a terrific guy.
Condolences to Marlo and family 🕊️
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