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Phil DonahuePopular former TV presenter, media personality
Date of Birth: 21.12.1935
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Phil Donahue
Phil Donahue, a former popular television host and media personality, was born into a devout Irish Catholic middle-class family. He became a member of the first graduating class of St. Edward High School in 1953. Donahue went on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1957. He married his first wife, Marge Cooney, in 1958 and they had five children before divorcing in 1975. Donahue remarried in 1980 to actress Marlo Thomas, and they remain married to this day. Despite not considering himself a "very good Catholic," Donahue still identifies with the faith, even though he disagrees with its "anti-sex theology." He has also expressed admiration for the atheist activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair.
Television Career
Phil Donahue is best known as the creator and star of the tabloid-style talk show "The Phil Donahue Show." He spent 26 years hosting this nationally-broadcast program, preceded by three years in local television in Detroit, Ohio, which concluded in 1996. Donahue often found himself at the center of divisive issues in the United States, such as abortion, consumer rights, civil rights, and anti-war protests. He also hosted the daily talk show "Donahue" on MSNBC from 2002 to 2003.
Early Career
Phil Donahue began his career in 1957 as an assistant director at the radio station KYW and television in Cleveland. He got his break as a news anchor when the previous announcer consistently failed to show up for work. After a brief stint sorting bank checks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Donahue became the director of a radio program at WABJ in Adrian, Michigan, shortly after completing his education. He later became a freelance correspondent for CBS on the evening news. He eventually became the host of the morning news broadcast on WHIO-TV in Idaho, where his interviews with Jimmy Hoffa and Billy Sol Estes propelled him to national recognition. He also interviewed civil rights activists such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
"The Phil Donahue Show"
On November 6, 1967, Phil Donahue launched his own talk show, "The Phil Donahue Show," on WLWD (now WDTN) in Dayton. In January 1970, the program expanded into a nationally syndicated project. After a total of 29 years on the air, Donahue hosted his final episode in May 1996, making his show the longest continuous talk show in American television history.
Later Career
From 1991 to 1994, Phil Donahue co-hosted weekly roundtable discussions on CNBC with Soviet journalist Vladimir Pozner, where they debated various controversial topics. In July 2002, Donahue returned to television as the host of "Donahue" on MSNBC. However, the show was canceled on January 25, 2003, due to low ratings. MSNBC was forced to terminate Donahue's services as a result. According to The New York Times, the show started with an audience of 660,000 viewers but declined to 393,000 after the first three weeks.
Later Work
In 2007, Phil Donahue served as the executive producer and co-director, alongside independent filmmaker Ellen Spiro, of the documentary film "Body of War." The film tells the true story of Thomas Young, a 24-year-old disabled Iraq War veteran, who becomes an anti-war activist after being rehabilitated at an Army medical center. In November 2007, "Body of War" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
