Phil Donahue, the pioneering daytime talk show host whose empathetic

style forever changed television, died peacefully on August 18 at the

age of 88, surrounded by his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, and their family.

Donahue began his broadcasting career in the late 1950s, but it

was the launch of The Phil Donahue Show in 1970 that cemented his legacy.

As the first host to invite unscripted audience participation and

tackle subjects that other programs shied away from—from women’s

rights to the Vietnam War—he created a new blueprint for talk television.

His candid, conversational approach inspired a generation of hosts,

including Oprah Winfrey, and helped elevate daytime TV from fluff to forum.

Over the course of his groundbreaking career, Donahue earned twenty

Emmy Awards and was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom

for his contributions to public discourse. Off camera, he was known

for his warmth, quick wit, and deep curiosity, qualities that made guests feel heard and viewers feel connected.

In lieu of flowers, the Donahue family asks that friends and fans consider

donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the

Phil Donahue–University of Notre Dame Scholarship Fund, supporting

causes dear to his heart. His trailblazing work lives on in every

talk show that dares to blend empathy with honest debate.