The longtime host of “The Phil Donahue Show,” Phil Donahue“, has away, according to his family.
Early on Monday morning, the “Today” show revealed the news of the media personality’s passing. A message from Donahue’s loved ones, including his wife of more than 40 years, Marlo Thomas, was given. Donahue passed away on Sunday evening after a protracted illness. His cause of death was not disclosed in any more detail.
As the creator of the modern daytime TV format, Phil Donahue was regarded as a groundbreaking TV journalist. He helmed his name-brand talk show for 29 years.
Phil Donahue spent his early years in Cleveland, Ohio, the site of his birth, before moving to Indiana to attend the University of Notre Dame.
In the late 1950s, Phil Donahue began his career in radio before shifting his attention to television. While there, he conducted interviews with a variety of well-known figures, including Malcom X, Johnny Carson, and President John F. Kennedy.
Having started “The Phil Donahue Show” in 1967, he then changed the name to “Donahue” in 1974 when Phil relocated the program to Chicago and a new station. The audience participation feature of the show made it noteworthy as the first of its type.
When we last saw Phil in 2014, he was reminding TMZ of his Cleveland roots and expressing his preference to see the Cleveland Cavaliers play in the NBA Finals over stopping by the Republican National Convention.
Rest in Eternal peace