‘To A Life Well Lived’: Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Ripa And More Stars Pay Tribute To Phil Donahue

As a lifestyle expert with decades of personal and professional experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Phil Donahue was a trailblazer who truly revolutionized the landscape of daytime television. Having spent countless hours watching, analyzing, and learning from various talk shows throughout my career, I’ve come to appreciate the profound impact that Phil had on shaping this genre.


Remembrances are flooding in following the passing of Phil Donahue at age 88 on August 18th. In a statement to People, Marlo Thomas, Donahue’s wife for 44 years, confirmed that he passed away with his sister, children, grandchildren, cherished pet Charlie, and of course, Marlo by his side.

In her statement, Thomas shared that her beloved husband had passed away tranquilly after a prolonged illness. She asked his well-wishers to consider making charitable donations instead of sending flowers, either through the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund portal.

In a heartfelt message on Instagram, Thomas expressed gratitude for the supportive messages she’s received and let her followers know she’ll temporarily step away from her platform to focus on self-care and support her loved ones, including Phil.

In my latest post, I shared one of my cherished moments with my partner Phil – a snap captured during our recent getaway. This photograph, I believe, beautifully encapsulates the essence of our bond and the memories we’ve created together.

Oprah Winfrey was among those who paid tribute to Donahue. On Instagram, she posted a monochrome photo of herself with this influential figure in media, accompanied by a caption stating, “Phil Donahue paved the way for The Oprah Show by being the pioneer who demonstrated that daytime talk shows and female audiences deserve respect.”

“He was a pioneer. I’m glad I got to thank him for it. Rest in peace, Phil,” she concluded.

Kelly Ripa expressed: “True friends are rare to find and challenging to part ways with. Here’s to a life beautifully lived. We adore you, Marlo, and will always miss Phil deeply.”

Sarah Jessica Parker, accompanied by a picture of Donahue, conveyed: “Many thanks for over two decades of intelligent, humorous, enlightening, and frequently courageous television.” The actress affectionately stated, “Phil Donahue, we adore you,” before extending her sympathies to Marlo Thomas.

Katie Couric expressed sadness upon learning about Donahue’s passing, as indicated in a post where she posted a black-and-white photo of him.

Ellen DeGeneres posted a clip featuring Phil Donahue on his own talk show, expressing: “Phil Donahue was an icon of daytime television. Sending love to his wife, Marlo Thomas, and the entire family.”

Accompanying an image of Donahue on the front page of People magazine from 1979, comedian Amy Sedaris penned: “Sad to hear the news. My family used to watch his show. We learned a great deal from him.”

On Instagram, renowned drummer and record producer Questlove expressed that an era has come to a close. He acknowledged Donahue as the epitome of the contemporary morning talk show, followed by his condolences with “Rest in Peace.”

“Director Michael Moore referred to his late friend as both fearless and courageous in a tribute. This individual, known for his bold stances, was taken off TV for opposing the Iraq War. One of his greatest works is ‘Body of War’ (2007), which ranks among the best documentaries ever made,” could be a possible paraphrase.

Speaking on Instagram, talk show legend Sally Jessy Raphael expressed her sadness over the passing of Phil Donahue. She praised him for his groundbreaking impact on television discussions, stating that he revolutionized how we communicate, the topics we address, and provided a platform for all voices to be heard. In essence, echoing Oprah Winfrey’s sentiments, Raphael said that if there was no Phil Donahue, there would not have been a Sally Jessy Raphael.

In a special interview with People, Montel Williams affectionately labeled the deceased talk show host as the “real pioneer” of their field. He highlighted the invaluable impact this individual made on television and crucial discussions about societal issues, expressing his heartfelt sympathies to the Donahue family.

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2024-08-20 13:56