Phil Donahue

Biography

Phillip John Donahue (December 21, 1935 – August 18, 2024) was an American media personality, writer, film producer and the creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show. The television program, later known simply as Donahue, was the first talk show format that included audience participation. The show had a 29-year run on national television in America that began in Dayton, Ohio in 1967 and ended in New York City in 1996. His shows often focused on issues that divided liberals and conservatives in the United States, such as abortion, consumer protection, civil rights and war issues. His most frequent guest was Ralph Nader, for whom Donahue campaigned in 2000. Donahue also briefly hosted a talk show on MSNBC from July 2002 to March 2003. Donahue is one of the most influential talk show hosts and has been called the "king of daytime talk". Oprah Winfrey has stated, "If it weren't for Phil Donahue, there would never have been an Oprah Show." In 1996, Donahue was ranked #42 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time. Description above from the Wikipedia article Phil Donahue, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Real Time with Bill Maher

Frasier

The View

L.A. Law

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Tamron Hall

Intimate Portrait

All Movies (27)

• BRATS2024 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• South to Black Power2023 · as Self
• Bella!2023 · as Self
• The Swap2016 · as Self (voice)
• The Billboard Boys2016 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Making of Trump2015 · as Self (archive footage)
• Traficant: The Congressman of Crimetown2015 · as Self
• Unity2015 · as Narrator (voice)
• Sunshine Superman2015 · as Self (archive footage)
• Finding Vivian Maier2014 · as Self - Talk Show Host
• Skum Rocks!2013 · as Self
• Project Censored the Movie2013 · as Self
• Ruth Lyons: First Lady of Television2011 · as Self
• Bob Ross: The Happy Painter2011 · as Self
• War Made Easy2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• Executing the Insane: The Case of Scott Panetti2007 · as Narrator
• Godless in America2006 · as Himself
• Preventive Warriors2004 · as Self
• Man of the Year1995 · as Himself
• Audrey Hepburn: Remembered1993 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Issue Is Race: A Crisis in Black and White1992 · as Self
• Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music1990 · as Self
• Happy Birthday, Bugs! 50 Looney Years1990 · as Self
• Free to Be... a Family1988 · as Self
• Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie1988 · as Self
• An Empire of Reason1988 · as Self
• First Steps1985 · as Self

All TV Shows (13)

• Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields2023 · as Self (archive footage)
• Tamron Hall2019 · as Self - Guest
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• Sex: The Revolution2008
• Real Time with Bill Maher2003 · as Self
• The View1997 · as Self
• Intimate Portrait1993 · as Self
• Frasier1993 · as Larry (voice)
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• Blossom1990
• L.A. Law1986 · as Phil Donahue
• The Daytime Emmy Awards1974 · as Self
• The Phil Donahue Show1967 · as Self - Host