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Donahue was also known as a prominent feminist and supporter of women’s rights since the late 1960s.
He was born in Cleveland in 1935 and started his media career in the late 1950s, initially working both in talk radio and television. He launched his namesake talk show in 1967. The show moved from Ohio to Chicago in 1974, rebranding as simply Donahue.
His wife took to Instagram to thank her followers “for the beautiful messages of love and support that have been coming in all day, and for the wonderful and generous way that you’ve let Phil and me share our life adventure with you over the years.”
She wrote she would be stepping away from her page for a while in order to take some time and to take care of herself after losing her dear husband.
Celebrities, among which Oprah Winfrey, paid their tributes to the man who helped pave the way for other talk-show hosts.
“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,” Winfrey wrote alongside a black and white photo of her and the late host. “He was a pioneer. I’m glad I got to thank him for it. Rest in peace Phil.”
Our thoughts and prayers go to Phil Donahue’s family.
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