More than a year after the death of legendary talk show host Phil Donahue, Marlo Thomas shared an update on TODAY on how she's feeling after losing her husband of 44 years.
Thomas, 88, who is national communications director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, did not appear on her regular TODAY broadcast ahead of the 2024 holidays because she mourned the loss of DonahueWHO died at 88 in August 2024.
She returned to TODAY this week for her first television appearance since Donohue's death and on Nov. 25 spoke briefly about life after losing her.
“I'm fine. I’m like Sheinelle,” she said, referring to TODAY’s Sheinelle Jones, who lost her husband. Ojeh's mindto brain cancer at age 45 in May.
Sheinelle told TODAY that Thomas helped her through her own grief.
“She was my earth angel,” Sheinelle said.
“Thank you. I miss him so much,” Thomas said, referring to Donahue.
Donahue died with Thomas, his children, grandchildren, sister and dog at his side, the family said in a statement to TODAY.com in August 2024.
After his death, Thomas wrote a tribute to her late husband and a message of gratitude on Instagram while noting that she would be taking a break from social media to mourn his loss.
“Until my return, I wish you good health and happy days in the company of family and friends, and I hope that you continue to keep those you love most close to you, just as I was lucky enough to do with my beloved Philip,” she wrote.
Thomas, who is also an actor, first met Donahue in 1972 as a guest on his talk show and then again when she returned in 1977 to promote her comedy The Thieves.
“You're wonderful! I said this when we were on air, but what I want to say is that you're loving and generous and you like women and it's a pleasure,” she told him on the show. “Whoever is the woman in your life is very lucky.”
The couple, who married in 1980, wrote a book together in 2020 called What Makes a Marriage Last. It contains conversations between famous married couples about their secrets of longevity.
Thomas spoke about the three L's she lived by, keeping her relationship with Donahue fresh over the years.
“Love, listening and lust,” she said People in 2023. “These are the three L's. You have to listen and then you will know what the other person is really thinking and experiencing. You have to love each other.”
