Marlo Thomas is mourning the death of her beloved husband, Phil Donahue. The talk show legend passed away on Sunday night after after a “long illness.” In her first statement since his death, Thomas sought privacy from fans during this difficult time while celebrating the enduring fairytale she shared with Donahue.
“Hello, Friends. I’m sure by now you’ve heard the very sad news that I lost my sweetheart last night,” she began. “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.” The That Girl actress expressed her deep appreciation for fans’ “messages of love and support,” admitting that Donahue would have loved it.
“As a man who spent his career loving his audiences, Phil got such a kick out of our cozy little community here. I know he would be very touched by the heartwarming thoughts and memories you’ve been sharing.”
Thomas then urged her fans to hold those they cherish closer just like she did with her “beloved Phillip.” Concluding her message, she wrote, “P.S. This is one of my favorite photos of Phil and me, taken on vacation.” The image attached to the heartfelt note showed the lovebirds riding a Vespa while on holiday. The actress in a red dress hugged Donahue tightly from behind.
A Look At Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas’ Enduring Hollywood Love
Donahue and Thomas’s love story defies Hollywood marriages. After a failed union, the late Phil Donahue Show host met the actress while filming an episode of his show in 1977. It was “love at first sight,” as Thomas recalled on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2021. Although the pair were hesitant to get married at first, they eventually walked down the aisle in 1980 after three years of long-distance dating.
In 2023, the Golden Globe-winning actress shared the secret to their over four-decade marriage — a rarity by Hollywood standards. “I call it the three L’s. Love, listening, and lust,” she confessed in an interview with People. “You have to listen, and then you’ll know what the other person is really thinking and going through. You have to love each other. And without lust, you don’t have anything.”
