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the “king of daytime talk” in the US, has died aged 88 in his Manhattan home on August 18.
In a statement to Today, his family confirmed the news, stating that the talk show host died following a long illness. During his final hours, he was surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 44 years, actress Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, Michael, Daniel, Kevin, and Mary Rose, his grandchildren, and his beloved golden retriever, Charlie.
The exact caused of death hasn’t been revealed.
Donahue hosted The Phil Donahue Show, later renamed Donahue, for nearly three decades, interviewing celebrities, politicians, and many of the iconic figures of his time, Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, and Dolly Parton among the rest.
Throughout his career, he hosted more than 6,000 episodes and often took on controversial social issues, inviting the audience to take part in the discussions and setting a new format for daytime talk shows.