Born in 1935, Donahue started his media career in the late 1950s in Ohio. He launched *The Phil Donahue Show* in 1967, which became nationally syndicated in 1970. Known for tackling controversial topics, Donahue once said, “There would be no Donahue show if I hadn’t somehow accidentally brought in the audience.”
His show revolutionized daytime TV by involving the audience directly, influencing future hosts like Oprah Winfrey. Throughout his career, Donahue won 20 Emmy Awards and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
