Oprah Winfrey, Sally Jessy Raphael, Andy Cohen and More TV Personalities Pay Tribute to Phil Donahue

TV personalities are paying their respects to pioneering talk show host, Phil Donahue.

The late daytime television icon, who hosted more than 6,000 iterations of The Phil Donahue Show from 1967 until 1996, died on Sunday night at his New York City home after suffering from a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, as well as four children from his previous marriage to Margaret Cooney. His youngest son, James, died in 2014.

Following the news of Donahue’s death, many who have followed his footsteps took to social media to celebrate his legacy.

“There wouldn’t have been an Oprah Show without Phil Donahue being the first to prove that daytime talk and women watching should be taken seriously. He was a pioneer. I’m glad I got to thank him for it. Rest in peace Phil,” wrote Oprah Winfrey. 

Sally Jessy Raphael, who rose to fame in the 1980s with her own talk show, also acknowledged that she owes her career to Donahue. “This is a very sad day. I admired Phil Donahue for so many reasons, and he was one of the finest broadcasters in American television. If there wasn’t a Phil, there would have never been a Sally. My thoughts & prayers go out to Marlo and their family,” she tweeted, alongside photos from his guest appearance on her show. 

20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts additionally delved into Donahue paving the way for her. “So sad to hear of the passing of talk show icon Phil Donahue at age 88. Like so many journalists, he inspired me during my career. What a life! Sending prayers of comfort to Marlo and his family,” she wrote.

Fellow famed daytime talk show host Montel Williams released a statement as well. “Yesterday, we lost a true pioneer. Phil Donahue, the godfather of talk shows, forever changed the landscape of television. My thoughts and prayers are with Marlo and his family. Rest in peace, Phil.” 

Andy Cohen remembered Donahue in a tweet as “a singular talent who revolutionized daytime television, and the talk show itself. He also was an outspoken advocate for the gay community at a time when we had none. Thank you Phil Donahue! RIP.” 

Piers Morgan shared a photo of himself with Donahue from their 2012 CNN interview, along with a message about sharing time together on air. “One of the true trail-blazing icons of American television. He hosted over 6,000 talk shows, and was the first to interact with a studio audience. Interviewing him for CNN a few years ago lived up to every expectation.. such a clever, interesting man,” Morgan tweeted.