Ms. Jessy Sally Raphael is aware that the world has suffered the loss of a genuine, pioneering ally in the form of Phil Donahue.
During an exclusive interview with People, the former talk show host, who is now 89 years old, reflects on the legacy of her late friend, Dana Donahue, who passed away on August 18 at the age of 88. She discusses how Donahue altered the landscape of daytime television by taking into account the reality of women watching television at home.
Raphael reveals that “[Donahue] is known for being the inventor of the talk show,” and he says this. He was the one who came up with the concept of talk shows. Afterwards, I came next, followed by Ricki Lake, then Oprah Winfrey, then Jerry Springer, then Maury Povich, then Geraldo Rivera, then — well, a whole bunch of other people came after that. Every single one of us was born to Phil Donahue.
“He’s the only one who did [cover] all those topics,” Raphael said, demonstrating that Donahue, who seldom utilized a teleprompter, was not afraid to tackle “taboo” themes. Raphael shared this information with viewers. Abortion, homosexuality, and religious beliefs…During the 1960s, he worked on them. That had never been done before by anybody else. According to Raphael, he also included the studio audience in the program by providing them with the opportunity to voice their thoughts on various themes and by adding viewer phone calls.
Raphael said that he also catered to “the daytime audience,” which he was aware was mostly comprised of females during the day. In addition to the fact that he was able to “talk” like a “Irishman,” Raphael says that “he liked women and women knew it, and that was very unusual in those days.”
As she continues, she recalls how his regard and adoration for women was clear on film. “Men in those days weren’t known for liking women,” she says.
Additionally, the host of Sally reflects on the time when Donahue first met with Marlo Thomas, who would later become his second wife. During the section in which Thomas was advertising her movie Thieves, the two women seemed to have an immediate connection with one another, and they went on to be married in the year 1980.
He explains, “You could see it on the screen,” referring to the immediate connection that existed between them. “You could see he was very interested and so was she.”
Donahue passed away on Sunday, August 18, at the age of 88 years old. In a statement that was initially reported by the Today show on Monday, August 19, Donahue’s family said that the pioneering television talk show journalist passed away in his home surrounded by his family. This included his wife of 44 years, Thomas, as well as “his sister, his children, grandchildren, and his beloved golden retriever, Charlie.”
The message conveyed the information that he “passed away peacefully following a long illness.”
In lieu of flowers, members of his family have asked that contributions to be sent to either the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
