Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas in 2016. Victor Hugo/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas in 2016. Victor Hugo/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

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Talk show icon Phil Donahue dies at 88

Phil Donahue, who flipped the script for daytime television by tackling controversial issues in front of a live audience, has died after a long illness, his family announced in a statement on Monday to People and NBC News. He was 88.