Phil Donahue, the award-winning Irish American journalist, died on Sunday, August 18.
Donahue's family confirmed in a statement issued to NBC's The Today Show that the groundbreaking TV talk show journalist died on Sunday night surrounded by his wife of 44 years Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, grandchildren, and his beloved Golden Retriever Charlie.
"Donahue was 88 years old and passed away peacefully following a long illness," his family said on Monday.
BREAKING: Television icon Phil Donahue dies at 88. pic.twitter.com/hzLlC5p5pb
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 19, 2024
In 2017, Donahue served as co-Grand Marshal of the St. Pat's for All Parade in Queens, New York, which had been established as a response to the exclusion of Irish LGBTQ communities from the St. Patrick's Day parade on New York City's 5th Avenue.
Announcing Donahue as the 2017 Grand Marshal, parade organizers said: “His TV journalism earned him 20 Emmy Awards – nine as host and 11 for the show as well as the George Foster Peabody Award; the President’s Award from the National Women’s Political Caucus; the Media Person of the Year Award from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance; and induction into the Academy of Television’s Hall of
Fame.
“Donahue headlined numerous network and public television specials, including the Emmy Award-winning children’s special, 'Donahue and Kids,' the landmark Ryan White Talks to Kids about AIDS.
"In 2006, Donahue co-produced and co-directed 'Body of War,' a documentary film about a young Iraq War veteran left in a wheelchair by enemy gunfire who begins questioning America’s involvement in the war. 'Body of War' captured, among others, the Grand Jury Prize at Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival; and a People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival.
"A native of Cleveland, Donahue is married to award-winning actress, author, and activist Marlo Thomas. They live in New York.”
After the 2017 parade, video journalist Sandi Bachom shared a clip of Donahue singing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" alongside Malachy McCourt, parade founder Brendan Fay, and others.
The video also features Donahue's remarks at the 2017 parade: "We march today to convey one simple message - this is a message you believe, I believe, it's a message all Irish believe, the Catholic Church believes, its Cardinal, its Bishops, [Pope] Francis believes it. This is a man who said, 'Who am I to judge?' He has opened the door, and the light is coming in, even with the Catholic Church.
"The world is changing and it's because of what you're doing here today - freezing, and standing here anyway.
"The message is: We are all God's children."
Later in 2017, Donahue was the recipient of the Irish American Writers & Artists' (IAW&A’s) Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award.
In their bio of Donahue, IAW&A said: "Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Phil Donahue spent a decade as a Dayton, Ohio reporter and radio interviewer of such notables as John F. Kennedy and Malcolm X before creating the innovative 'The Phil Donahue Show,' which often focused on topics dividing liberals and conservatives in America and was the first TV talk show to incorporate audience participation."
Then IAW&A President Larry Kirwan said at the time: “Apart from Mr. Donahue’s many artistic triumphs, Irish American Writers and Artists, as a progressive organization, is proud to salute his political activism and his very meaningful and costly protest against the 2003 invasion of Iraq.”
Kathleen Walsh D’Arcy, IAW&A Board Member and Co-Chair of the St. Pat’s For All Parade, further said: “He has always been the ultimate Irish American voice for truth and justice in media.
“As our parade Grand Marshal last March, he spoke about human rights, LGBTQ rights, and an Irish history of immigration that shows we should embrace new waves of immigrants from around the world.”
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More recently, Donahue was among the 19 recipients of this year's Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by US President Joe Biden in May.
Introducing Donahue at the award ceremony, a military aide said: "From Irish-Catholic roots in Cleveland, Phil Donahue rose to transform television and reshape the national conversation.
"Over 29 years, nearly 7,000 episodes, and 20 Emmys, he pioneered the live daytime talk show, holding a mirror up to America.
"He interviewed everyone from our greatest stars to our forgotten neighbors, uniting us around the toughest issues of our time.
"Insatiably curious and accepting, he saw every guest as worthy of interest and worked to build understanding, bringing us to see each other not as enemies but as fellow Americans."
Phil Donahue is a journalist who pioneered the daytime issue-oriented television talk show. Donahue was the first daytime talk show to feature audience participation and one of the most influential televisions programs of its time. pic.twitter.com/wiXUalWeK2
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 4, 2024
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