He began his media career in the late 1950s, working first in talk radio and then in television. He was born in Cleveland in 1935. In 1967, he debuted his chat program of the same name. In 1974,
the program relocated from Ohio to Chicago and changed its name to just Donahue. “For the lovely messages of love and support that have been coming in all day,
and for the wonderful and generous way that you’ve let Phil and me share our life adventure with you over the years,” his wife thanked her Instagram followers.
After losing her beloved spouse, she posted that she would be taking a break from her website to give herself some space and care.
