Following the terrible loss of her “sweetheart” spouse and talk show icon Phil Donahue, Marlo Thomas pays tribute to him
Marlo Thomas has honored her late husband, legendary talk show host Phil Donahue. At the age of 88, the host of The Phil Donahue Show passed away on Sunday at his home in the company of family members, including his actress wife.
‘I’m sure by now you’ve heard the extremely terrible news that I lost my sweetheart last night,’ she wrote on Instagram, sharing a cute picture of the couple riding a motorcycle together on vacation.I’m sure you understand that I’ll be taking some time off from this page to care for myself and all of the individuals who loved and cared for Phil.
The 86-year-old actress protested, “But I didn’t want to disappear without saying thank you for the beautiful messages of love and support that have been coming in all day.” ‘And for the amazing and kind ways you’ve allowed Phil and me to share our life journey with you throughout the years.’
‘As a man who spent his career enjoying his audiences, Phil got such a kick out of our snug little community [on social media], and I know he would be incredibly touched by the sweet thoughts and memories you’ve been sharing,’ she went on.
“”Until I return, I hope you will continue to hold close to those you cherish most, as I was blessed to do with my beloved Phillip,” Donahue’s second wife added. “I wish you good health and happy days in the company of family and friends.”
She continued, signing ‘Love, Marlo,’ and posting an old picture of the couple on vacation in Europe.”She wrote, “P.S. This is one of my favorite pictures of Phil and me.” “[Taken] while on holiday.” After 44 years of marriage to Donahue, the wife received innumerable messages of support and comfort. The two actually got together on the set of his show in 1977, when Thomas was the guest and Donahue was the presenter.
After ‘immediate chemistry’ between Thomas and the TV talk show presenter, the two eventually were married in a mere three years, as she disclosed on Facebook in 2015.
The actor and producer Thomas, who is still active today, stated at the time, “Phil and I met on his talk show, ‘Donahue,’ in 1977.”
“His TV audience watched us fall in love while he flirted and I laughed.” After getting married in 1980, the couple had five kids.
Meanwhile, over the course of 16 more years, Donahue had notable figures on his groundbreaking program, including Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali, Johnny Carson, Ayn Rand, and Nelson Mandela. In addition, he would win 20 Emmys: 10 for best host and 10 for best overall program.
Marlo shared a more recent image of the superstar on Instagram just last month, showing him tending to a horse on a Canadian farm.In contrast to when Joe Biden gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom back in May, he stood independently with the use of a cane, appearing well and content in the picturesque surroundings.
The picture was taken during filming for Hallmark’s A Magical Christmas Village, which starred Thom, at least a year and a half ago.
‘Here’s a favorite image of Phil in the morning feeding the horses outside the house where we were staying in Canada,’ the actress said in a heartfelt message to her 145,000 followers, marking the occasion. ‘A delightful way to begin the day!’
Since then, tributes have flooded in for the well-loved TV personality, whose approach to daytime TV served as a model for people as diverse as Oprah Winfrey, Geraldo Rivera, and Sally Jesse Raphael.
Worth over $3 billion, Winfrey is well-known for having stated in 2002, “If there had been no Phil Donahue show, there would have been no Oprah Winfrey.” On Monday, she released a statement repeating her comments.
“Without Phil Donahue’s pioneering work in establishing the legitimacy of daytime talk shows and women’s viewing, there would never have been an Oprah Show, the author concluded. “He was a trailblazer.” I’m happy I had the opportunity to thank him. Phil, rest in peace.
Donahue’s children, grandchildren, and wife, sister, were all at his side when he passed away, and they survive him.
