Phil Donahue, the legendary U.S. talk show host, has passed away at 88. His family confirmed that he died peacefully at home on Sunday after a long illness, surrounded by loved ones.
Donahue was known as the “king of daytime talk,” creating and hosting The Phil Donahue Show, which ran for nearly three decades and featured over 6,000 episodes. He interviewed iconic figures like Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, and Dolly Parton.
Launching his groundbreaking show in 1967, Donahue introduced audience participation, a format that transformed daytime television. His discussions often tackled social issues, making the show resonate with a broad audience, particularly women. Donahue’s influence helped shape the landscape of talk shows for generations to come.
