Phil Donahue, a staple of American daytime TV and trailblazer with The Phil Donahue Show, died Sunday night at 88.
His wife of 44 years, actress Marlo Thomas, along with his sister, children, grandchildren, and golden retriever Charlie were all by his side at the time of his passing, according to the family's statement to NBC. Donahue’s family said the longtime host had been battling an unspecified long-term illness.
The groundbreaking Phil Donahue Show was on air for 29 years beginning in 1970, and was a key program on daytime television, often credited with creating the format viewers are accustomed to today. It was the first show to have a studio audience and to discuss topics that were considered taboo during the time period like child abuse and race relations.
