Actress Marlo Thomas pays tribute to ‘beloved’ Talk show legend after his death:

If these are useful to you, don’t forget to share the information in the groups you belong to! Thank you!

Actress Marlo Thomas has shared a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, talk show legend Phil Donahue. Donahue passed away at the age of 88 after a long illness, surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 44 years, Thomas herself, his sister, children, grandchildren, and even his beloved golden retriever, Charlie.

In her lengthy Instagram post, Thomas expressed her sadness, stating, “I’m sure by now you’ve heard the very sad news that I lost my sweetheart last night.” She also mentioned that she’ll be taking a break from social media to take care of herself and those who cared for Phil.

Phil Donahue was known for hosting the Emmy-winning show, “The Phil Donahue Show,” which aired for an incredible 28 years. During his career, he had the honor of interviewing renowned guests such as Muhammad Ali, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, and Jamie Lee Curtis. In fact, he was the first person to interview Nelson Mandela after his release from prison in 1990. Donahue even made history as the first American talk show host to tape a show in the Soviet Union.

Marlo Thomas appeared on Phil Donahue’s show as a guest in 1977, and the couple tied the knot in 1980. In her Instagram caption, Thomas mentioned that it was love at first sight for them. Despite not having children together, they cherished their blended family as Donahue had five children from a previous marriage.

Their enduring love story is detailed in their book, “What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life.” Thomas wrote, “Had Phil and I been younger, we might have been more impatient and missed each other. But being older, we trusted our hearts and made the effort.”

Marlo Thomas also expressed her gratitude to the public for the outpouring messages of love and support and thanked their Instagram followers for being a part of their journey. She signed off, sending well wishes for good health and more happy days in the company of loved ones.

As she takes time to heal, Marlo Thomas shared a cherished photo of her and Phil on a motorcycle, a reminder of the beautiful memories they created together during their vacation.