Phil Donahue, the renowned American host of “The Phil Donahue Show,” has died

Phil Donahuethe renowned and iconic American host of the show “The Phil Donahue Show“, He died at the age of 88 after “a long illness,” his family announced in a statement on Monday.

“Groundbreaking television talk show host Phil Donahue died on sunday at night in his home surrounded by his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomasher sister, her children, grandchildren and her beloved golden retriever, Charlie,” said a statement released by people close to her.

Donahue changed the daytime television from the 1967 when starting to address issues controversial and controversial for the time, such as equality of rights Women’s, warshe abortionconsumption of drugs and topics that sparked attention and captivated American audiences.

Phillip John Donahue’s Beginnings

The presenter was born on 21 of December 1935 in Cleveland, Ohiowhere he developed his skills announcer as presenter of television news and radio in your State.

His success and chance came in 1967 when he first presented his program “The Phil Donahue Show“, on the WLWD TV transmitter (currently WDTN) of Daytonand had the ingenious and innovative strategy of asking direct questions to the audience from the live studio.

In 1980 He married the actress Marlo Thomasrecognized for her leading role in the comedy “That Girl“. The public saw how they fell in love live and direct on the show, which made them one of the most popular today. couples who lasted the longest together in the world show.

Revolution in the television format

The dynamics that imposed Donahue He managed to gain the reputation and space of the people so that his program addresses issues controversial and contemporaries for that moment. In addition, he invited his public to participate thus giving voice to a great diversity of opinions and approaches.

After 11 Emmy Awards during his career and almost three decades of the program, the last one broadcast in 1996 At a national level, this presentation system was the driving force for the creation of other similar formats that gave rise to figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Springer, Montel Williamsamong others.

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Presenter Oprah was one of the figures who paid tribute to and remembered Phil on social media.

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“There wouldn’t have been an Oprah show without Phil Donahue “He was the first to show that daytime talk shows and programmes for women should be taken seriously,” the presenter paid tribute on social media. Oprah Winfrey and added that “it was a pioneerI’m glad I was able to thank you for that. Rest in peacePhil”.

In May of this year, the president Joe Biden awarded him in a tribute to Phil the Medal of Freedomobtaining the highest civil honor of the nation and the recognition having been a pioneer of the daytime talk show.

The family asked in a statement that those offering their condolencesinstead of sending flowers as a symbol of support, do donations to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or at the bottom of scholarships for students of Phil Donahue.