Longtime TV talk show host Phil Donahue died on Sunday night following a long illness, his family said. He was 88.
Donahue died at his home surrounded by his family, including his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, grandchildren and his beloved golden retriever, Charlie, his family said in a statement to TODAY.
No further details about his cause of death were released.
The 3rd hour of TODAY’s Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones announced the news of Donahue’s death on Monday morning.
“You know, we overuse sometimes the word trailblazer, but he certainly was, indeed,” Sheinelle said.
The journalist pioneered the modern format of issue-based daytime talk shows featuring audience participation. His show would become one of the most influential programs of its time.
In addition to hosting his eponymous show, Donahue regularly appeared on TODAY from 1979 to 1988.
Donahue returned to TV briefly in 2002, when he began hosting a show called “Donahue” on MSNBC, which was canceled several months later.
President Joe Biden awarded Donahue and 18 others the Presidential Medal of Freedom in May. The medal is the country’s highest civilian honor, and is presented to “individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors,” according to the White House.
Donahue’s family requested that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers, according to the statement.
