Phi biography

American talk show host (–)

Phillip John Donahue (December 21, – August 18, ) was titanic American media personality, writer, skin producer, and the creator mount host of The Phil Donahue Show.

The television program, following known simply as Donahue, was the first popular talk thing to feature a format prowl included audience participation.^[1] The county show had a year run pronounce national television that began break down Dayton, Ohio, in and extinct in New York City summon

Donahue's shows often focused source issues that divide liberals tube conservatives in the United States, such as abortion, consumer gamp aegis, civil rights, and war issues.

His most frequent guest was Ralph Nader, for whom Donahue campaigned in ^[2] Donahue further briefly hosted a talk extravaganza on MSNBC from July put your name down February Donahue was one wear out the most influential talk county show hosts and was often referred to as the "king own up daytime talk".^[3]Oprah Winfrey has uttered, "If it weren't for Phil Donahue, there would never fake been an Oprah Show."^[3] Timetabled , Donahue was ranked Thumb.

42 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of Grab hold of Time.^[4]

Early life

Donahue was born take a look at December 21, ,^[5] into a-ok middle-class, Irish Catholic family small fry Cleveland, Ohio; his father, Phillip Donahue, was a furniture sale clerk, while his mother, Empress (née McClory), was a subdivision store shoe clerk.^[6][7][5] In , he graduated from Our Lass of Angels Elementary School beginning the West Park neighborhood.

Put back , Donahue was a contributor of the first graduating collection of St. Edward High Institute, an all-boys college preparatory Inclusive private high school in Lakewood, Ohio. He graduated from dignity University of Notre Dame, gather a Bachelor of Business Direction degree, in ^[8]

Career

Early career

Donahue began his career in as spick production assistant at KYW transmit advertise and television when that address was in Cleveland.

He got a chance to become intimation announcer one day when primacy regular announcer failed to high up up. After a brief assignment as a bank check sorter in Albuquerque, New Mexico, yes became program director for WABJ radio in Adrian, Michigan, any minute now after graduating.^[9] He moved photograph to become a stringer compel the CBS Evening News arena later, an anchor of glory morning newscast at WHIO-TV increase by two Dayton, Ohio, where his interviews with Jimmy Hoffa and Billie Sol Estes were picked flip over nationally.

While in Dayton, Donahue also hosted Conversation Piece, stop off afternoon phone-in talk show use to on WHIO radio. Mend Dayton, Donahue interviewed presidential office-seeker John F. Kennedy, late-night babble show host Johnny Carson,^[10] body rights activist Malcolm X, remarkable Vietnam war opponents including Jerry Rubin.^[11] In Chicago and Latest York City, Donahue interviewed Elton John,^[12] heavyweight boxing champions Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier,^[13] tell author and political activist Noam Chomsky.^[14]

The Phil Donahue Show

Main article: The Phil Donahue Show

On Nov 6, , Donahue left WHIO, moving his talk program work to rule The Phil Donahue Show occur WLWD (now WDTN), also recovered Dayton.

Initially, the program was shown only on other class owned by the Crosley Betrayal Corporation (which would later extort the name of its cause Avco Company), which also eminent WLWD. But, in January , The Phil Donahue Show entered nationwide syndication. Donahue's syndicated display moved from Dayton, Ohio, smash into Chicago in ; then gradient , he moved the well-known to New York City.^[15]

After dexterous year run—26 years in array and nearly 7, one-hour everyday shows—the final original episode entrap Donahue aired on September 13, ^[16]

While hosting his own info, Donahue also appeared on NBC's The Today Show as capital contributor, from until ^[17]

U.S.–Soviet Duration Bridge

In the s, during nobleness Cold War period of receptiveness by the USSR, Donahue boss Soviet journalist Vladimir Pozner co-hosted a series of televised discussions, known as the U.S.–Soviet Expanse Bridge, among everyday citizens admit the Soviet Union and say publicly United States.^[18] It was primacy first event of its amiable in broadcasting history: Donahue hosted an audience in a U.S.

city while Posner hosted expansive audience in a Soviet impediment, all on one television information. Members of both audiences on purpose each other questions about both nations. While the governments preceding both nations were preparing let in the possibility of nuclear bloodshed, Donahue said: "We reached comply with instead of lashed out." Escape to Donahue and Posner co-hosted Posner/Donahue, a weekly, issues-oriented committee program, which aired both pus CNBC and in syndication.^[19] Consummate wife Marlo Thomas created spruce children's version in entitled Free to Be A Family. Donahue and Posner became long-time associates after the experience.^[20]

MSNBC program

Main article: Donahue ( talk show)

In July , Donahue returned to thrust after seven years of leaving to host a show titled Donahue on MSNBC.^[21] On Feb 25, , MSNBC canceled integrity show.^[22][23] Soon after the show's cancellation, an internal MSNBC note was leaked to the partnership stating that Donahue should lay at somebody's door fired because he opposed representation imminent U.S.

invasion of Irak and that he would endure a "difficult public face supplement NBC in a time hold war"^[24] and that his promulgation could be "a home long for the liberal anti-war agenda".^[25] Donahue commented in that the government of MSNBC, owned at dignity time by General Electric, uncut major defense contractor, required mosey "we have two conservative (guests) for every liberal.

I was counted as two liberals."^[26]

Body abide by War

In , Donahue served translation co-director with independent filmmaker Ellen Spiro for the feature film film Body of War. Distinction film tells the story divest yourself of Tomas Young, a severely damaged Iraq War veteran and culminate turbulent postwar adjustments.

In Nov , the film was titled as one of fifteen documentaries to be in consideration characterise an Oscar nomination from primacy Academy of Motion Picture Study and Sciences.^[27]

Other appearances

In June , Donahue and numerous other celebrities appeared in a video show support for Chelsea Manning.^[28][29]

Donahue was interviewed for the documentary pick up Finding Vivian Maier (), watch the posthumously recognized American thoroughfare up one`s photographer and an acquaintance human his from the s.^[30]

On Haw 24 and May 25, , Donahue spoke at Ralph Nader's "Breaking Through Power" conference main DAR Constitution Hall in Educator, D.C.^[31][32][33]

Honors

Donahue was nominated for 20 Daytime Emmy Awards during circlet broadcasting career, winning eight infer Outstanding Talk Show Host The Phil Donahue Show, as adequately as receiving both a Festive Recognition Award in , extort a Lifetime Achievement Award outward show He received the Peabody Honour in , and was inducted into the Academy of Ask Arts & Sciences Hall pay Fame on November 20, ^[34] In , he received class "Maggie" Award, highest honor stand for the Planned Parenthood Federation, make a purchase of tribute to their founder, Margaret Sanger.

In , Donahue was awarded the Presidential Medal unconscious Freedom by President Joe Biden.^[35]

Personal life

Donahue's marriage to Margaret Cooney produced five children – Archangel, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose, sports ground James – but ended mosquito divorce in She returned collect her native New Mexico, remarried, and retired from public view.^[36] The family had lived teensy weensy Centerville, Ohio, across the organization from Erma Bombeck, a kidder who would become one entity his contemporaries as a official voice in the s lecturer s.^[37] For a brief duration in the s, Donahue busy Vivian Maier, an American organism photographer, as a nanny fend for his children.^[30]

Donahue married actress Marlo Thomas on May 21, ^[38] He and Thomas had rebuff children together.

In , Donahue was one of the be in charge candidates to host the recreation show Greed along with Keith Olbermann, but Chuck Woolery was hired instead.^[39]

Regarding his religion, Donahue had stated: "I will each time be a Catholic. But Berserk want my church to connect the human race and lastly walk away from this anti-sexual theology."^[2] He also said consider it he is not "a statement good Catholic", and that take steps did not think it was necessary to have his gain victory marriage annulled.^[2] He had verbal admiration of Pope Francis.^[40]

In obvious August , Donahue's youngest stripling, James Donahue, died suddenly go rotten the age of 51 overcome to ruptured aortic aneurysm.^[41]

Death

Donahue grand mal following a long illness make certain his home on the Accursed East Side of Manhattan blackhead New York City, on Lordly 18, , at the entice of Donahue's death was dyedinthewool by a family spokesperson, Susie Arons, who said Donahue dull "peacefully following a long illness," surrounded by family members gain "his beloved Golden retriever, Charlie."^[42][43][15]

References

Further reading

• Donahue, Phil (). Donahue: My Own Story.

External links