Television icon Phil Donahue, pioneer of daytime talk TV, has died at age 88. His family confirmed his death to “The Today Show” on Monday, Aug. 19.
Donahue was the creator and producer of “The Phil Donahue Show,” which inspired imitators such as Oprah Winfrey, Sally Jesse Raphael, Jerry Springer and Maury Povich.
BREAKING: Television icon Phil Donahue dies at 88. pic.twitter.com/hzLlC5p5pb
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 19, 2024
The “Phil Donahue Show” was first nationally syndicated in 1969 and made Donahue a household name. The show ran for 29 years.
Donahue’s guests included Muhammad Ali, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Whoopi Goldberg, Blair Underwood, Bernie Sanders, 2 Live Crew, Donald Trump, and more.
2 Live Crew performance of “The Funk Shop” on Phil Donahue (1990). pic.twitter.com/XjxAAnxR7N
— LinaRaye (@Epithymia__) December 31, 2023
Donahue was the first person to interview Nelson Mandela following the South African president’s release from prison in 1990.
The show never resorted to Jerry Springer shock tactics such as guests fighting to boost ratings.
Donahue won 200 Emmy Awards, and he was a frequent guest at the White House under multiple administrations.
His show tackled sensitive topics such as the anti-war movement, the feminist movement, and the gay rights movement.
The show was renamed “Donahue” in 1974 and eventually reached more than 200 stations across the country.
But he lost female viewers to a young upstart named Oprah Winfrey. Donahue began losing major markets and his show was canceled in 2003.
“Network management apparently didn’t care for the anchor’s left-leaning politics,” Variety wrote at the time.
Donahue discussed the impact Oprah Winfrey had on daytime television.
“We had [daytime television] all to ourselves from 1967 to 1985,” he said in an episode of “Emmy TV Legends.”
“And along comes Oprah Winfrey, and it’s just not possible to overstate the enormity of her impact on the daytime television game. It was staggering,” he added.
Oprah Winfrey praised Donahue in a September 2002 episode of her show.
“The bottom line is we need you, Phil, because we need to be challenged by the voice of dissent,” she said.
Donahue remained a popular guest on many talk shows and news programs. He also produced documentaries.
Donahue’s survivors include his second wife, Marlo Thomas, and five children from his first marriage.
Watch Minister Louis Farrakhan’s first appearance on “Donahue” below.
