By Michelle Dumas

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

Phillip John Donahue (December 21, 1935 – August 18, 2024) was an American media personality, writer, film producer, and the creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show. The television program, later known simply as Donahue, was the first popular talk show to feature a format that included audience participation. The show had a twenty-nine–year run on national television that began in Dayton, Ohio, in 1967 and ended in New York City in 1996.

Donahue’s shows often focused on issues that divide liberals and conservatives in the United States, such as abortion, consumer protection, civil rights and war issues. His most frequent guest was Ralph Nader, for whom Donahue campaigned in 2000. Donahue also briefly hosted a talk show on MSNBC from July 2002 to February 2003. Donahue was one of the most influential talk show hosts and was often referred to the “king of daytime talk”. Oprah Winfrey has said, “If it weren’t for Phil Donahue, there would never have been an Oprah Show.” In 1996, Donahue was ranked no. 42 on TV Guide‘s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.