Recently widowed actress Marlo Thomas, 86, paid tribute to her late husband of 44 years on Instagram on Aug. 20.
She shared an old photo of the couple on vacation sitting on a moped together, telling fans she will be stepping away from social media for a while.
“I’m sure by now you’ve heard the very sad news that I lost my sweetheart last night, so I know you understand that I’ll be stepping away from this page for a while to take care of myself and the many people who took care of Phil, and held him close to their hearts,” she wrote.
Phil John Donahue, 88, died on Aug. 18, surrounded by his family and dog Charlie, after a long illness, according to a statement given to news outlets by his family.
Thomas wrote to fans expressing her gratitude for their love and support.
“But I didn’t want to disappear without saying thank you for the beautiful messages of love and support that have been coming in all day… As a man who spent his career loving his audiences, Phil got such a kick out of our cozy little community here, and I know he would be very touched by the heartwarming thoughts and memories you’ve been sharing,” she wrote.
Donahue, born Dec. 21, 1935, started his career with minor roles before he became a news reporter at a local Dayton, Ohio, station. He then created and hosted “The Phil Donahue Show,” also known as “Donahue,” which ran for 29 years from 1967 to 1996 on U.S. television. The show covered a number of social issues.
Donahue was also an American journalist who was involved in film production. The Oscar-nominated documentary “Body of War” about Iraq War veteran Tomas Young was written, directed, and produced by Donahue.
Before his death, Donahue was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United State’s highest civilian honor, at the White House in May.
On Aug. 20, President Joe Biden released a statement sending his condolences to the icon and family members.
“In Phil Donahue, our nation has lost a trailblazing television icon who held up a mirror to America and united us around the toughest issues of our time.” Biden said, “he pioneered the live daytime talk show, helping change hearts and minds through honest and open dialogue.”
Referred as the “king of daytime talk” and paving the way for interactive audience talk shows, the icon was honored by veteran television hosts Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres for the legacy he left behind.
“There wouldn’t have been an Oprah Show without Phil Donahue being the first to prove that daytime talk and women watching should be taken seriously. He was a pioneer. I’m glad I got to thank him for it. Rest in peace Phil,” Winfrey said in an Instagram post.
DeGeneres also paid tribute on Instagram, writing: “Phil Donahue was a daytime TV legend. I’m sending love to his wife Marlo Thomas, and their family.”