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Marlo Thomas Shares Grief Journey After Phil Donahue's Death
26 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Marlo Thomas spoke about her husband Phil Donahue's passing for the first time publicly.
- She shared her grief journey and how she is coping with the loss.
- Thomas appeared on the Today show for its annual Thanks and Giving series.
Marlo Thomas has spoken publicly for the first time about the profound grief she is experiencing after the loss of her husband, Phil Donahue. In a recent appearance on the Today show, Thomas, 88, shared how she is coping with his passing, which occurred on August 18, 2024. She referred to Today journalist Sheinelle Jones as her "Earth angel," who is also navigating her own recent widowhood.
Thomas's appearance coincided with the launch of Today's annual Thanks and Giving series, an initiative that spotlights the vital contributions of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, an institution founded by her father, Danny Thomas, in 1962. Donahue, a pioneering television host, passed away peacefully at his home after a long illness, surrounded by his family.
The couple shared 44 years of marriage after meeting in 1977 when Thomas was a guest on Donahue's show. Reflecting on their union, Thomas previously attributed the success of their marriage to "love, listening and lust." The couple also collaborated on the 2020 book "What Makes a Marriage Last."
