Legendary TV host Phil Donahue has died aged 88. Donahue was an innovative TV presenter who rose to fame in the late 1960s, becoming one of the first people to interact with a studio audience.
A statement from his family said: “Groundbreaking TV talk show journalist Phil Donahue died Sunday night at home surrounded by his wife of 44 years Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, grandchildren and his beloved golden retriever Charlie.”
“Donahue was 88 years old and passed away peacefully following a long illness.” A talk-show trailblazer, his programme, The Phil Donahue Show, was the first of its kind, including the introduction of audience participation.
At its peak, The Phil Donahue Show – later renamed Donahue – was a ratings hit and inspired similar shows by hosts Montel Williams and Jerry Springer.
Oprah Winfrey described Donahue as a trailblazer who invented smart talk in the afternoon and brought startling new ideas into the living rooms and laundry rooms of American women.
“If there had been no Phil Donahue show, there would be no ‘Oprah Winfrey’ show,” Winfrey said in 2002. “He was the first to acknowledge that women are interested in more than mascara tips and cake recipes — that we’re intelligent, we’re concerned about the world around us, and we want the best possible lives for ourselves.”
The Cleveland nativ, once dubbed the “king of daytime TV”, fronted more than 6,000 episodes of The Phil Donahue Show from 1967 until 1996. In addition to hosting his own show, Donahue was a regular contributor to NBC’s TODAY from 1979 until 1988.
After he stepped down in 1996, Donahue briefly returned to television in 2002 as a prime-time host on MSNBC, however, his show was cancelled after less than a year.
In May, Donahue was amongst 19 high-profile Americans who were awarded the presidential medal of freedom. Former President Joe Biden gave him the prestigious honour for his storied career, during which he received 11 Daytime Emmy Awards.
Piers Morgan paid tribute to the TV icon, writing on X: “RIP Phil Donahue, 88. One of the true trail-blazing icons of American television.
“He hosted over 6,000 talk shows, and was the first to interact with a studio audience. Interviewing him for CNN a few years ago lived up to every expectation.. such a clever, interesting man.”