Phil Donahue, a famous American talk show host, died at his home in Manhattan, New York, on the 18th (local time).He was 88.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 19th that Donahue died of a chronic illness at a family gathering the day before.

Donahue hosted "The Feel Donahue Show" (Donahue Show), the first daytime program involving an audience, from 1967 to 1996 when he was 29.
He focused his attention by asking aggressive questions to guests, walking around the studio and communicating directly with the audience.


The Donahue show was highly popular at the time, covering sensitive topics such as abortion, race relations, and gender revolution, which were taboo, unlike daytime programs that were dramas, game shows, and lyrics programs aimed at women who were the main viewers.
In 1988, he dealt with sexual abuse of children in the Catholic Church for the first time in talk show history.


In addition, the Donahue show covered a variety of socially hot issues at the time, including feminism, homosexuality, consumer protection, and citizenship.
In 1979, People magazine called the Donahue show a "national forum for American housewives."


His new hosting method, which differentiated him from the previously standardized talk shows, has had a lot of influence on other TV talk shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show since then.
Oprah Winfrey, the "queen of the talk show," also said, "Without Phil Donahue, there would be no Oprah show."


Donahue won nine Daytime Emmys for being the host of the best talk show.
In May, President Joe Biden presented Donahue with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor.
At the time, President Biden said, "Donahue led the discourse of the country through thousands of everyday conversations."


U.S. entertainment media Variety cited the non-threatening paternal image, bonding with a female audience and a sharp, non-aggressive interview style as popular factors for the Donahue show.
In 1980, he received the Peabody Award, which is considered the most prestigious award in the U.S. broadcasting industry, amid an assessment that "he stands out for his ability to ask difficult questions without causing unpleasantness and natural honesty."


However, Donahue announced his retirement in the late 1980s after falling behind in competition with the programs of Oprah Winfrey and other late talk show hosts.
The Donahue Show aired about 7000 episodes until its end in 1996.
After his retirement, Donahue briefly resumed his broadcasting career through MSNBC in 2002.


In a statement, the deceased's family asked for donations to St. Jude Children's Hospital or the Phil Donahue and Notre Dame Scholarship Foundation instead of artificial flowers.