Phil Donahue had 5 children with ex-wife Margaret Cooney; his only daughter, Mary Rose Donahue, is occasionally featured on her stepmother, Marlo Thomas’s, social media.
Key Takeaways
- Phil Donahue’s only daughter, Mary Rose Donahue, was born around 1965.
- Mary Rose lives a private life away from the spotlight and social media.
- She is occasionally seen celebrating holidays with her father, siblings, and stepmother Marlo Thomas.
Phil Donahue, the pioneer TV talk show host who first introduced the live audience format, passed away on August 18, 2024, due to a “long health issue.”
In the statement provided by Donahue’s family to TODAY, he passed away at his home surrounded by his family—his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, his grandchildren, and his beloved Charlie, the golden retriever.
Among his children are his four sons—Michael, Kevin, Daniel, and James—and his only daughter, Mary Rose Donahue, all mothered by Phil’s ex-wife, Margaret Cooney.
Mary Rose was the fourth child of Phil and Margaret and was born around 1965.
While she was still young, in 1975, her parents divorced, and her mother got custody of her and her brothers.
Margaret took all the siblings back to her native New Mexico home, and they mostly stayed out of the public eye.
Mary Rose Donahue still leads quite a private life, but glimpses of her are occasionally shown on her stepmother, Marlo Thomas’s, social media.
In August 2011, Marlo shared a photo on her Facebook and mentioned that Mary Rose had recently enrolled in culinary school.
The stepmother and daughter had visited a restaurant in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
During Christmas of the same year, Rose was again featured on Marlo’s Facebook, this time seen using her new-found culinary skills to help her dad carve a turkey.
Marlo also posted her stepdaughter during Christmas of 2015 and 2016, where the whole family was seen partaking in holiday dinners and getting into the spirit.
While Phil’s daughter has chosen to live a private life, glimpses of occasional gatherings and good times paint a picture of a somewhat distant but still emotionally strong relationship between her and her family.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Phil Donahue did not have any children with Marlo Thomas.
- He was 88 when he passed.
- Phil and Marlo were married for 44 years.
