'King of US Talk Shows' Phil Donahue Passes Away at 88 Years Old

Pioneer of Talk Shows, Diverse Communication on Abortion and Race
9-Time Emmy Winner... Oprah Winfrey: "Without Donahue, There Would Be No Oprah Show"

Phil Donahue, a famous American talk show host, passed away on the 18th (local time) at his home in Manhattan, New York. He was 88 years old.

Famous American talk show host Phil Donahue passed away on the 18th (local time) at his home in Manhattan, New York.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 19th that the family announced in a statement that Donahue died of an illness the day before while surrounded by family.

Donahue hosted "The Phil Donahue Show" (Donahue Show), the first daytime program with audience participation, from 1967 when he was 29 until 1996. He attracted attention with his unconventional hosting style, asking guests aggressive questions and moving around the studio to interact directly with the audience.

Unlike other daytime programs at the time, which targeted female viewers with dramas, game shows, and homemaking programs, the Donahue Show gained high popularity by addressing sensitive topics that were considered taboo, such as abortion, race relations, and the sexual revolution. In 1988, it was the first talk show to cover the issue of sexual abuse of children within the Catholic Church.

In addition, the Donahue Show covered a wide range of socially hot issues at the time, including feminism, homosexuality, consumer protection, and civil rights. In 1979, People magazine described the Donahue Show as "a national forum for American housewives."

His new hosting style, which differentiated from the conventional talk shows until then, greatly influenced other TV talk shows such as "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Oprah Winfrey, known as the "Queen of Talk Shows," once said, "Without Phil Donahue, there would be no Oprah Show."

Donahue won nine Daytime Emmy Awards as the best talk show host. In May of this year, President Joe Biden awarded Donahue the highest honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. At the time, President Biden stated, "Donahue led the nation's discourse through thousands of everyday conversations."

The American entertainment media Variety cited Donahue's non-threatening paternal image, bond with female audiences, and an interview style that was sharp yet non-aggressive as reasons for the Donahue Show's popularity. In 1980, he received the Peabody Award, considered the most prestigious award in American broadcasting, praised for his "ability to ask difficult questions without causing offense and his innate honesty."

However, in the late 1980s, Donahue announced his retirement as he was outcompeted by programs hosted by later talk show hosts including Oprah Winfrey. The Donahue Show aired about 7,000 episodes until it ended in 1996. After retirement, Donahue briefly resumed broadcasting in 2002 through MSNBC.

The deceased's family requested in a statement that instead of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue-Notre Dame Scholarship Foundation.